While the ELD mandate's efficacy in improving safety by preventing commercial drivers from fudging the entries in their paper log books is still a controversial subject, what is dead certain is that the law of unintended consequences went into effect forcing more drivers than ever before to seek parking, often in unsafe locations without services.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 12, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA rolls out a new truck awareness resource for teens, less than a month until next safety inspection blitz, and Knight-Swift announces a new pay increase.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 9, 2021
It's spotted lanternfly season again, and ag officials believe this one is going to be whopper. Pennsylvania now has 34 counties officially in the state's spotted lanternfly quarantine zone, and officials are urging travelers to be extra cautious because of an expected larger hatch this spring.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 7, 2021
Trucking companies will have to start casting around in some non-traditional waters for available drivers. Many support the FMCSA proposed program to allow under-21 drivers to operate commercial vehicles across state lines as a way to mitigate the driver shortage.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 5, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul Embark announces a universal interface for four major makes of truck, OOIDA pens letter to the U.S. Senate about truck parking, about truck size and weight, and funding, and Crete increases driver pay.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 2, 2021
A recent article at TruckDriversSalary.com with salary statistics from 2020 shows that Walmart has been displaced from its coveted number one spot by the major food distributor Sysco – though the difference of only a little over $1,000 is nearly negligible for that level of annual pay range.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 31, 2021
Industry watchers are becoming increasingly concerned about the privacy invasive tactics being employed by Amazon against its delivery drivers, and worry that if it spreads throughout the trucking industry it could have an impact on driver retention.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 29, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, Embark signs MOU with Arizona Department of Transportation, proposed bill would allow more HOS flexibility for livestock and ag haulers, and a U.S. Senate committee hears about the truck parking crisis.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 26, 2021
In a "particularly difficult, stressful year," Women in Trucking Association has amassed a record number of women who are honored in WIT's fourth annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 24, 2021
Here are the latest commercial drivers to receive their Highway Angel wings from Truckload Carriers Association.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 22, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul and innovative wing design saves significant fuel, huge cost of a proposed vehicle miles traveled tax, and states looking at amending left-lane laws.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 19, 2021
Texas State Legislatures have introduced House Bill 19 and companion Senate Bill 207 that they hope would put an end to nuclear verdicts against trucking companies that were not at fault. The gist of the bill is that plaintiffs in crashes involving commercial carriers in Texas would have to prove the carrier was grossly negligent in order to extract a large verdict from them as the result of a trial.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 17, 2021
When Rick Pena graduates from Pima Community College at the end of this current semester he will have earned a certificate from the Autonomous Vehicle Driver & Operations Specialist Certificate Program, and will hold the title of autonomous vehicle driver and operations specialist.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 15, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul U.S. Xpress pushes for $2 million minimum insurance, the ATA applauds introduction of the DRIVE Safe act to put under-21 drivers into interstate commerce, and illegals stream across the border in semi trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 12, 2021
Introduced by U.S. Rep Robert Cortez Scott (D-Virginia), H.R. 842 builds on California's AB 5 in order to institute the ABC test for all companies across the United States that hire gig workers and independent contractors. Some 212 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 10, 2021
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Associated has entered the fray in the newly resurrected effort to propose a mandated Federal speed-limiter law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 8, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul Florida Highway Patrol "sneaks up" on distracted drivers with a big rig truck, there is no final hair test rule yet, and an unlicensed Mexican driver caught trying to smuggle 41 illegal immigrants across the border.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 5, 2021
A bi-partisan team of United States Senators has come together to reintroduce the Promoting Women in Trucking Workforce Act. They are proposing legislation to support women in the trucking industry, and for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to establish a Women in Trucking Advisory Board.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 3, 2021
Having settled into compliance and routine use of mandated electronic logging devices U.S. commercial carriers that transport into Canada will have to go through the process all over again. Only, this time it will be much more complicated.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 1, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul ATRI releases report of the top 100 truck bottlenecks, North Dakota still considering road trains legislation, and TuSimple is the first self-driving truck innovator to announce a public stock offering.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 26, 2021
While tractors and the loads they haul continue to get heavier, commercial carriers have not fully embraced the lightweighting concept, resulting in costs of lightweight components for those who do want to employ lightweighting to remain high, but it also impacts carriers' bottom line.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 24, 2021
The electronic logging device mandate that went into effect last year opened the door for many small telematics and technology innovators to develop the next killer product that they hoped would be making an appearance in every single truck on the nation's roads.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 22, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul travel centers throughout the mid-west and south experience closures and outages due to the severe winter storm, President Trump's trucker-friendly apprenticeship program shut down, and EPA steps up efforts to end diesel emissions tampering.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 19, 2021
Unless the FMCSA receives a significant number of comments in the near future opposing its impaired vision proposed ruling -- and there has been no significant opposition so far -- soon drivers will not have to gain an exemption to drive with a vision impairment in one eye.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 17, 2021
Land Line, the online news source for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, has released its update of what state legislatures are considering this year regarding red-light and speed camera ticket enforcement.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 15, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul C.R. England files a RICO lawsuit against New Orleans area truck crash scammers, riskiest states and road segments are identified, and Walmart offers an $8,000 sign on bonus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 12, 2021
The comment period for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's proposed pilot program allowing under-21 drivers to operate across state lines has long passed, and the agency hasn't made a final ruling implementing the program yet, but concerns are still being voiced – on both sides of the issue.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 10, 2021
Every month, Women in Trucking Association recognizes one member for its Member of the Month program. This year's two honorees, so far, are Claudia Rodriguez as Member of the Month of February, and Karen Noel as Member of the Month for January.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 8, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul CVSA announces 2021 inspection blitz, Nikola cuts a deal giving it a hydrogen production boost for its fuel-cell-powered semis, and OOIDA lobbies CDC for COVID vaccines at truck stops.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 5, 2021
Outspoken advocate for truckers, Lewie Pugh with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, is expected to drop some more of his infamous "truth bombs," as one of six witnesses testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this Thursday.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 3, 2021
A January article at Trucks.com highlighted the statistical fact that trucking is one of the deadliest occupations. Among the ideas brought forth trying to reduce the number of accidents that contribute to that statistic is to implement blind spot alert technologies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 1, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul Texas border officials see upswing in human smuggling attempts, the DOL rescinds an earlier trucker-friendly opinion, and comments come in about the FMCSA's yard moves clarification.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 29, 2021
Five drivers honored in January as Highway Angels by TCA and EpicVue for exemplary courtesy and courage in helping motorists in emergency situations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 27, 2021
With all the attention being given to independent contractor driver status among trucking firms, and in light of the U.S. Department of Labor recently releasing a rule on that issue, the question has arisen whether a carrier can require their contracted drivers to implement safety measures and still allow those drivers to maintain their non-employee status.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 25, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul truckers can now take training in how to stay safe during protests, new administration means dark days ahead for small carriers, and two mega carriers invest in TuSimple's autonomous truck programs.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 22, 2021
In their seemingly never-ending march down the road to cripple the state's economy California regulators are proposing a new rule to make warehouse owners and operators responsible for the exhaust emitted by the trucks that service the warehouses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 20, 2021
In a breakthrough decision by the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, commercial motor carriers need not impose California's meal and rest break regulations on their interstate drivers operating within the state.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 18, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul North Dakota proposes an 80 mph speed limit, FMCSA announces its 2021 advisory committees, and a Sixth Circuit Court opinion slashes a truck crash lawsuit attorney's argument.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 15, 2021
The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have released its 18th annual Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws and the China virus has taken one more hit in the blame game for helping to give 2020 a "substantial uptick in the fatality rate." In her preamble to the report, Advocate's President Catherine Chase remarked that, "In 2020, emptier roads turned into racetracks, impaired and distracted driving was reported as more widespread, protections like seat belt use appear to have dipped, and the traffic fatality rate spiked. In 2021, let’s change this picture."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 13, 2021
A proposal to open up North Dakota roads to Australian-like "road trains" has been approved by the state's legislature for a pilot program.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 11, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul TCA announces the top 20 best fleets to drive for in 2021, the U.S. Dept. of Labor publishes its final rule on employee and independent worker status, and ATS says yard jockeys need more training.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 8, 2021
For truckers the pairing of a service where a dispatcher finds and assigns a reserved parking space for them, and also calls up a mobile tanker to fuel them while they rest would be a marriage made in heaven. And that, indeed, is the concept dreamed up by two transportation industry companies that have been individually serving truckers on the road.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 6, 2021
A hard deadline looms for carriers and owner-operators to register and make their first query with the FMCSA's Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. That deadline is tomorrow, January 5. And FMCSA proposes new guidance defining yard-moves for HOS purposes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 4, 2021
This is a truck vs. car accident case that lasted for years in the courts that defies understanding, much less the ability to explain, but we'll do our best because the bizarre nature of the story is worth it.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 1, 2021
Some 68 years after first being mandated for heavy trucks, and about 53 years after notoriously featuring in a famous actress' death, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a new rule requiring that rear underride guards must be examined as part of a truck's annual inspection.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 30, 2020
The statistics are alarming. And they don't paint a healthy picture for the trucking industry … speaking of the health of truck drivers, that is. According to a Corporate Wellness Magazine online article, truck drivers as a group are in trouble, health-wise.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 28, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul OOIDA sends letter to Congress claiming COVID-relief bill does little to help truckers, J.B. Hunt partners with the University of Arkansas to develop inclusiveness and diversity in trucking, and a major winter storm hits the mid-West and moves on to the East.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 25, 2020
A new strain of the COVID virus that has arisen recently in Great Britain has made the island nation into a virtual "persona non gratis" among European countries. And thousands of truck drivers appear to be among the most-affected and vocal about being stranded at Britain's ports unable to cross over to the continent.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 23, 2020
In a 38-page report released Friday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office the conclusion was that the U.S. Department of Transportation and its three main administrations do not have the skilled staff necessary to oversee the growing automation technology that is taking place in the trucking industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 21, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA announces a new rule allowing driving trainers to also administer the skills test, U.S. Xpress partners with MIT for an HOS study, and Triton-EV debuts a new hydrogen/electric semi.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 18, 2020
The COVID virus has been blamed for a lot of things this year – deserved or not – and now online Christmas shoppers are being told to expect a delay in receiving their packages … and it's COVID's fault. To make matters worse, the emergency rollout of the COVID vaccine that is gearing up right now has taken precedence over Christmas gifts, creating a stackup all up and down the logistics supply chain from the nation's ports all the way to a Christmas shopper's front door.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 16, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is addressing an issue that came up for a proposed change in 1994 and 1997, and was rejected both times then, but that looks likely to finally be resolved soon, primarily due to an improvement in computer connectivity technology that makes the change feasible.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 14, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Women in Trucking opens nominations for Female Driver of the Year 2021, FMCSA taking registrations for an HOS Q&A webinar, and Oregon State University students come up with a better handle.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 11, 2020
Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the MORE Act, enabling a Federal-level decriminalization of marijuana.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 9, 2020
It's not exactly a trade secret that trucking companies want their recruiters to find them the best, most-qualified drivers. After all, it's in everybody's best interest for a carrier's drivers to be able to safely and efficiently move freight from Point A to Point B. To find drivers who are the best fit for their trucking firms -- meaning qualified drivers who will stay with them longer -- recruiters are now turning to a hiring practice called predictive hiring – hiring based on the results of a behavior assessment test.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 7, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul - ATA writes letters pushing for prioritizing vaccines for truckers, FMCSA extends HOS exemptions for vaccine deliveries, and UPS ramps up dry ice production for safe storage and transportation of frozen vaccines.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 4, 2020
A question that a daughter posed to her trucking industry dad has led to a joint study between her and CarriersEdge and Women in Trucking on the issue of prenatal health and safety for women truck drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 2, 2020
Several commercial truck drivers have been named recently as Truckload Carriers Association's newest Highway Angels for showing exemplary courtesy and courage while on the job.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 30, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul TCA announces division finalists for its Fleet Safety Awards, CDC puts truck drivers on short list for COVID-19 vaccine, and Volvo will take orders for its electric semi beginning December 3.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 27, 2020
Despite ongoing negative reactions from drivers and opposition from some organizations like the Teamsters Union, the latest innovation in driver assistance technology – machine vision and artificial intelligence – is continuing to make itself known inside a driver's cab.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 25, 2020
In reaction to the latest news about an alleged new outbreak of the COVID-19 virus the Centers for Disease Control has released new guidelines specifically for truck drivers and their carrier employers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 23, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul take a Daimler self-driving Freightliner tour, high school driver's ed student learn about big rigs, and StopTheTires2020 is officially cancelled.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 20, 2020
Almost immediately after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ruled two years ago to preempt California's meal and rest break laws for drivers of commercial vehicles the Washington Truckers Associations brought forth its own petition asking the FMCSA to extend the same preemption status to Washington State drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 18, 2020
Women in Trucking Association, along with Freightliner Trucks, announced the 2020 Influential Woman in Trucking award recipient during the WIT Accelerate Virtual Conference & Expo, which concluded on Friday. This year, however, the Influential Woman award went to two candidates, as judging of the six finalists came down to a tie for the top scorers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 16, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul includes a trucking quilter, a Tri-State Motors $5,000 bet that new drivers can beat their former pay, and how CRST has conquered dwell time for the first and last mile of hauling freight.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 13, 2020
Today, November 11, Veterans Day, is the day that a trucker strike group has chosen for a trial run national shutdown called StopTheTires2020 in protest of presidential candidate Joe Biden's Green New Deal platform; which would eliminate fracking, thus raising fuel prices.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 11, 2020
While the rest of the world awaits a final count of legal, legitimate votes in several battleground states that will determine who occupies the White House for the next four years the results are in that California voters handily gave the California State Legislature a beat-down with passage of Proposition 22.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 9, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the FMCSA has published its 2020 Pocket Guide to Large Truck and Bus Statistics, Heartland Express announces driver pay increase, and the comment period on FMCSA's teen driver proposal ends on Monday.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 6, 2020
Hard on the heels of a recent criticism of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General comes a tersely worded letter from a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts charging the FMCSA with allowing "trucking companies across the United States to operate with minimal to no federal accountability."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 4, 2020
In most, if not virtually all, online listings for the top 10 or top 25 most unsafe roads in America the I-10 corridor across the southern states makes the list … sometimes even coming out at the top or near the top. Of interest to truckers, as well, is the lack of truck parking along the long stretches of desert landscapes which constitute the Western states portions of the Interstate.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 2, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Tyson tries out removing rear view and side mirrors, one in eight trucks go out of service during Brake Safety Week inspections, and a coalition of producers and distributors lobby in favor of FMCSA's split 14-hour pilot program proposal.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 30, 2020
The driver shortage, driver compensation, and truck parking ranked in the top three concerns among drivers, carriers and other trucking industry stakeholders in the just-released American Transportation Research Institute's survey titled "Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry – 2020."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 28, 2020
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General issued its annual report card on agencies under its purview, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration got a mild rebuke for the number of CDL frauds that occurred under its watch during the past four years.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 26, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Volvo receives nearly $22 million grant to provide electric semis, EPA fines carriers for California emissions violations, and Pennsylvania upgrades its Steer Clear law to a Move Over law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 23, 2020
In a recent jury verdict that evoked superlatives among the trucking news media like "historic," "record," and "biggest ever," a Florida jury has awarded a motorcycle rider $411.7 million for injuries he received in an accident on westbound I-10 in Tallahassee, Florida.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 21, 2020
Last Friday the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published its ruling denying the Small Business in Transportation Coalition's request to allow drivers traveling with domestic animals – in other words, pets – an exemption from the ELD mandate, and to allow for additional hours of driving and a longer work shift.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 19, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul a trucker was caught smuggling 100 migrants across a Texas border, confusion over Prime's settlement, USF Holland sued, and trucks do proportionally more road damage.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 16, 2020
Responding to the National Tank Truck Carriers Inc's application for approval to add a pulsating amber or red brake light to rear of tank trucks in addition to the steady-burning regular brake light, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a 5-year exemption beginning October 8.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 14, 2020
Autonomous trucking principals Xiaodi Hou of TuSimple and Boris Sofman of Waymo agreed on some major issues they have faced in their AV development, but disagreed on a fundamental issue of how to overcome the differences that self-driving trucks might encounter between highway driving and street-level driving.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 12, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul USA Truck announces a driver self-dispatch program, carriers are beginning to bump driver pay, and FMCSA announces an emergency declaration for southern states impacted by Hurricane Delta.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 9, 2020
Last June Women in Trucking with Freightliner Trucks opened nominations for the 2020 version of their Influential Women in Trucking award. Today, WIT and Freightliner announce the six finalists from among the many nominations who they believe exemplify women as female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 7, 2020
One question that drivers should be constantly asking … even long before a lawsuit situation develops, after an accident for example … is what am I doing now that is going to be used against me big time if I am sued?"
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 5, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Walmart buys 130 Tesla semis -- to start, FMCSA opens the drivers advisory panel for applications, Pronto.ai is denied an HOS exemption request, and Jim Mullen formerly of FMCSA takes job at TuSimple.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 2, 2020
Truck load and less than truck load (LTL) are common trucking industry terms that have been around for awhile. But there's a fairly new "truck load" term that is beginning to find its way into the industry's compendium of jargon, and that is STL, standing for shared truck load.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 30, 2020
September 29, tomorrow, is a much-anticipated big day. No, not because of the presidential debate between President Trump and Joe Biden that is scheduled for 9 pm Eastern … well, that too … but because the long-awaited new hours of service rules go into effect.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 28, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Schneider announces remote new-driver orientation, comments come in for FMCSA's 14-hour rule proposal, FMCSA extends CDL license renewal waiver, and ATA endorses the DOL's employee status review.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 25, 2020
A major new player has joined the independent contractor fray that was created when California legislators passed Assembly Bill 5 last year mandating a strict definition of employee-contractor status that virtually eliminated independent contractor work for huge segments of the economy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 23, 2020
As freight demand grows, especially in anticipation of an early holiday sales season, Amazon is finding itself losing its owner-operator line-haul drivers to the spot market, and is needing to find capacity elsewhere. And FMCSA creates a drivers advisory panel, and reminds owner-operators to register for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 21, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul WIT announces photo contest winners, Teamsters and other safety groups challenge FMCSA's new HOS rules, and $1 billion is added to states' infrastructure funding.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 18, 2020
While we await the compilation of results from International Road Check, which ran from September 9 to September 11 this year, it might be instructive to review the recently released results of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Operation Safe Driver Week that was conducted earlier this summer.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 16, 2020
As part of its celebration of truck drivers during the 2020 National Truck Driver Week the American Trucking Associations has teamed up with Peterson Manufacturing to award 10 professional truck drivers $1,000 each for hardships they have undergone during the virus pandemic.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 14, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the FMCSA issues extension of its wildfire-related emergency declaration, hair drug testing published for comments, and an Iowa carrier tries a new driver pay structure.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 11, 2020
After examining 1,118 comments from last year's announcement of an under-21 commercial driver pilot program the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced on Friday a new pilot program testing the feasibility of allowing 18 through 20-year-old drivers to operate large commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 9, 2020
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on Friday a State Assembly bill that carves out more exemptions to Assembly Bill 5, commonly known as the independent contractor law, that went into effect this year. Unfortunately for California trucking companies and contract drivers, however, the changes brought by Assembly Bill 2257 do not help California independent contractor drivers, but instead double down on keeping them under the original AB 5 enforcement umbrella.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 7, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul DOT creates a website for the public to track AV testing, the split-duty proposal comment period is open for comments, and mandatory hair testing is nearing the public review and comment stage.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 4, 2020
The FMCSA's research and analysis department has helped to fund with just over $1 million a program created by Pulsar Infomatics to monitor and act on driver fatigue in near real time. Called the Trucking Fatigue Meter, Pulsar's program integrates with 90 percent of existing electronic logging devices and analyzes statistics using those streams of trucking data to evaluate a driver's condition and "provide actionable feedback in near real-time"
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 2, 2020
Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it was starting a pilot program to test whether it would be feasible to offer drivers relief from the agency's hours of service regulation restricting driving to 14 hours from when they first came on duty.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 31, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Travel Centers of America, Pilot Company and Love's Travel Stops all announce driver specials to celebrate National Driver Appreciation Week, and the whole month of September.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 28, 2020
The importance of this year's general election to the nation's health -- in many regards -- cannot be overstated. But, as drivers and others with a stake in the trucking industry we should recognize that there are also some dramatic implications for the transportation sector as well.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 26, 2020
Several participants in a truck-accident insurance scheme that made the New Orleans area notorious for the scam have pleaded guilty – including the man that has been dubbed in news reports as the ringleader of the group.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 24, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul North Dakota is looking into allowing road trains on its highways, Brake Safety Week begins August 23, large number of drug and alcohol violators are not returning to duty, and OOIDA and Teamsters right joint letter opposing Mexican truckers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 21, 2020
Passenger car drivers who happened to be on I-84 recently between Portland, Oregon, and Nampa, Idaho, might have found themselves griping about "those dang trucks" driving too close together – forcing them to have to pass two trucks at a time instead of just the one.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 19, 2020
Stopping to aid motorists during horrific crashes earn truck drivers awards as Truckload Carriers Associations Highway Angels
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 17, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul a dying trucker gets his wish for a last ride in a truck, FMCSA extends HOS exemptions, and fully autonomous trucks won't be on the highways any time soon.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 14, 2020
The trucking industry's venture into full-on autonomous Class 8 trucks – TuSimple being a prime working example -- is well beyond the driver assistance technology offered in passenger vehicles, but a recently released study conducted by the American Automobile Association on vehicles employing active driver assistance lends itself to urging caution about the safety of the technology.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 12, 2020
The state of Pennsylvania reports nearly a 500 percent increase in spotted lanternfly sightings, and has announced it has added two new counties to its quarantine list.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 10, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul JKC Trucking says no freight to 'defunded' cities, woman driver experiences sleeper break-in, and Women in Trucking honors top women-owned transportation businesses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 7, 2020
Truck drivers are facing an increasing number of incidences of violence, as chronicled in a recent CDL Life article; with a marked increase recently because of out-of-control rioters. However, perhaps the most bizarre incident involving a trucker occurred last Saturday on the Florida Turnpike.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 5, 2020
SmartDrive, a leading innovator in video-based safety intelligence systems for trucks, has developed a patented technology for alerting drivers to situations where they might be speeding for conditions and where they might need help while parked in "sitting duck" situations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 3, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the FBI sends out a notice warning about hacker attacks against trucks' ELDs, college students study how to hack trucks, and OOIDA writes a letter to Congress asking them to suspend the HVUT.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 31, 2020
Women in Trucking Association, with the co-sponsorship of Hudson Insurance Group, is sponsoring their 2020 sixth-annual "I Heart Trucking" photo contest. Theme for this year's contest is, appropriately, HERoes of the Highway.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 29, 2020
As yet another response to the Federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act passed in 2015 the State of California has published a massive document to update the state's freight planning. Titled, "California Freight Mobility Plan 2020," the 326-page document was released by the California State Transportation Agency, known as Caltrans, to comply with a FAST Act requirement for states to provide state freight plans and update them every five years to be able to qualify for National Highway Freight program funding.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 27, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Love's announces mask requirement, John Christner driver hits 10-million safe miles mark, CVSA announced Brake Safety Week, and a TuSimple autonomous truck is involved in an incident on I-10.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 24, 2020
In reaction to the COVID-19 virus, FMCSA is hosting its Trucking Safety Summit in August and making it available as a virtual meeting, free and open to anybody who wishes to register and participate via a digital device.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 22, 2020
At a time when so many carriers are in financial trouble, and reading news about smaller fleets you'll encounter terms like, "bankruptcy," "layoffs," and "closing doors," there are still some smaller carriers that have not only survived this tumultuous year but have apparently thrived. Overdrive online has decided to honor those successful small fleets with its first ever contest to find the Small Fleet Champ for 2020.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 20, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states sign a memorandum to push for electric semis, carriers find a smaller pool of student new hires, and troopers ride with truckers to spot unsafe drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 17, 2020
Nearly one-tenth of all truck drivers currently plying America's highways would be pulled off the road if the more-conclusive hair testing for drug use was mandated in addition to, or in place of, the currently mandated urine test.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 15, 2020
Thousands of truck drivers say they owe the success of their ventures into trucking to the training and encouragement that they got from a trucking-oriented website called TruckingTruth.com. Much of their success can be attributed to the unrelenting positive attitude of the site's owner/founder Brett Aquila, who has imbued the site throughout with expressions of encouragement, fierce personal responsibility, humility, the importance of admitting mistakes, and having the desire to learn.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 13, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul July 12-18 is set for inspection blitz, truck drivers must give contact info at Canadian border crossings, and Hyundai ships first 10 fuel cell trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 10, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced the agency has granted two exemptions for commercial carriers meeting specific conditions. Both notices were published in the Federal Register this week.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 8, 2020
TuSimple, an early autonomous Class 8 innovator, has leapfrogged all the other autonomous truck innovators by announcing on July 1 the launching of what they call "the world's first Autonomous Freight Network."
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 6, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, the suspence comes to an end as the House passes the Moving Forward Act, YRC Worldwide gets a huge government bailout, and trucking jobs are coming back.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 3, 2020
Representatives of the nation's truck stops and travel plazas, convenience stores and gasoline marketers have joined together to send a letter to the U.S. Congress opposing the Moving Forward Act.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 1, 2020
Ironically, a truck driver's biggest defense against becoming infected during the COVID-19 virus threat is something that many drivers complain about while living on the road – often to the point of having to quit driving -- the self-quarantining and extreme social distancing that comes with the job … in other words, being lonely on the road.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 29, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Convoy steps up its game to capture more freight business, FMCSA extends CLP waiver, the $2 million minimum insurance coverage amendment is passed, and CDL examiner and trucking school owner are sentenced for CDL fraud conspiracy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 26, 2020
"Nuclear" verdicts, monetary awards against trucking firms that are $1 million to $10 million or greater, have been making the news lately, and that's why the American Transportation Research Institute underwent an extensive study to quantify the number and size of awards, and to find out why the litigation landscape has changed so much to bring about these verdicts.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 24, 2020
In a lawsuit that belongs in the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" category, CRST and seven other mega carriers are defending against a lawsuit by job-seeking drivers who complain that the carriers don't hire them as drivers even though they are still under contract to other carriers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 22, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul - Speeds return to normal post-virus, Congress mulls a $2 million minimum for truckers' insurance, and Women in Trucking looking to honor an influential woman.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 19, 2020
Because the declaration of the national emergency due to the virus crisis is still in effect, the FMCSA recently announced several extensions of previous emergency waivers and declarations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 17, 2020
A vast majority of drivers responding to a CDL Life poll stomped down hard on the brakes and declared they will not enter cities that have defunded their police departments.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 15, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul FreightWaves finds that truckers love guns, freight broker leader steps down, and how to avoid injury from rioters.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 12, 2020
Cargo thefts appear to be on the rise in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year, and at least one cargo theft security company has attributed the cause of increased cargo criminal activity to COVID-19 circumstances.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 10, 2020
Two citizen-driven measures are working their way through legal channels that would give California voters the chance to thwart the will of state legislators in their desire to throttle California's gig and independent contractor economy by enforcing the recently enacted AB 5, the independent contractor law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 8, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Prime escapes a potentially nuclear verdict, Teamsters applaud legislation that might undo recent HOS changes, and OOIDA opposes efforts to give brokers exemption from posting a $75,000 bond.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 5, 2020
As every driver knows who enters a shipper/receiver's facility with anything but a drop-and-hook load a certain dwell time is to be expected. The bane of drivers, however, is when that dwell time turns into detention time. During the past few months of the virus crisis drivers said they were experiencing longer-than-normal detention times – sometimes 24 hours or more. But, now that the crisis has largely passed on in most locations, and panic buying has subsided, those detention times have begun to decrease.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 3, 2020
On the heels of CRST Expedited's successful lawsuit against Swift Transportation, claiming damages because Swift allegedly poached its trained drivers, CRST had filed a similar lawsuit against TransAm Trucking in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa on the same poaching charges.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 1, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the driver shortage appears to be over - for now, Amazon announces its freight brokerage is going nationwide, and lawyers are learning how to extract "nuclear" verdicts from carriers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 29, 2020
As the nation rebounds from the near-catastrophic, economy-killing, over-reaction to the COVID-19 virus, trucking industry leaders are beginning to look toward the future of the industry the rest of this year, and into the years to come.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 27, 2020
The time for completely unattended autonomous freight hauling via Class 8 trucks is still somewhere down the road, but because self-driving vehicle innovators are stuck with regulations requiring a "driver" (and sometimes an engineer as well) to accompany the vehicles on each trip they are beginning to ask for hours of service exemptions for those attendees.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 25, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Trimble MAPS offers a free app to help driver find places to stop, the rate of fatal accidents increased during COVID-19 lockdowns, Comcar declares bankruptcy, and ATA study shows increase in driver pay, bonuses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 22, 2020
Two years after first announcing its proposal to revise hours of service regulations for drivers of commercial vehicles, and after receiving thousands of comments from drivers and members of the public, the Department of Transportation released last Thursday its final decision regarding new HOS rules.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 20, 2020
In early November 2016, on the eve of when voters nationwide would be deciding on investments in transportation and infrastructure, film makers Jennifer Clymer and Marijane Miller debuted the screening of a trucking documentary that they hoped would help influence infrastructure funding.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 18, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the FDA offers guidelines in cleaning and disinfecting reefers that were used as temporary COVID-19 morgues, ATRI announces 2020 research priorities, and FMCSA extends again the HOS emergency declaration.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 15, 2020
Sue Spero, president of Carrier Services of Tennessee, Inc., has been recognized for her many achievements in the trucking industry by being named as Women In Trucking's Distinguished Woman In Logistics for 2020. And Emily Soloby, WIT's Member of the Month for May, currently co-owns and helps run the AAA School of Trucking, with two locations in Pennsylvania, but she has taken an unbelievable path to get there.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 13, 2020
As reported recently in a Trucking Truth news article freight brokers are taking the brunt of truck drivers' anger at dramatically declining rates, but now brokers are pushing back against the accusation that they are price-gouging those drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 11, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul - Tank truckers suffer COVID-19 revenue decrease, former Arrow Trucking CEO gets an early prison release, and FMCSA offers to strike non-preventable crashes from fleets' and drivers' records.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 8, 2020
As the commercial truck transportation industry settles into its COVID-19 virus era new way of doing business the American Transportation Research Institute and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association Foundation have released the results of a survey from the industry on how the reaction to the pandemic has affected them.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 6, 2020
The United States military has been keeping pace with the commercial trucking industry in developing platooning technology, often employing virtually identical mechanical and electronic components to accomplish their purposes. But the design specifications to meet the needs for the two couldn't be farther apart.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 4, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul - Truckers protest low freight rates, FMCSA gives out 1 million masks to drivers, and the SecurSpace app finds parking spots for drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 1, 2020
WorkHound, an online platform for drivers to anonymously provide feedback to their companies, has released its latest analysis of driver comments regarding the COVID-19 crisis. The study analyses comments from drivers in the April 1, 2020, through April 15, 2020, period, and has noted some significant changes in drivers' perceptions about the virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 29, 2020
In the wake of states' efforts to keep an adequate flow of virus-related essential materials moving along America's highways by granting temporary waivers on weight limits, an organization that opposes bigger trucks has written a letter to the nation's state governors reminding them to return to normal weight limits once the crisis is over.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 27, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul truckers meet at White House for heroes reception, California state senator tries to undo AB5, and TA furloughs more than 3,000 employees.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 24, 2020
Netradyne, a company that produces camera and artificial intelligence-based technology focusing on driver safety, has released findings of a survey of drivers' opinions about driver distractions and AI technology. The bottom line is that the majority of drivers agree that distracted driving is on the rise, but also that "it's the other guy" who is to blame.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 22, 2020
Truckers have been getting a lot of love lately, but the industry is becoming concerned about the long-term effect of the reaction to the COVID-19 virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 20, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states begin imposing intrusive measures on travelers, FMCSA issues another virus waiver declaration, and face coverings are now required to enter Canada.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 17, 2020
At a time when the public's awareness of the importance of the trucking industry in general, and truck drivers in particular, is at an all-time high because of the COVID-19 virus crisis, at least one industry leader has found an irony in the situation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 15, 2020
Just days after a coalition representing commercial drivers licensing schools, trucking companies and shippers sent a letter to federal and state officials trying to persuade them to keep state drivers license agencies open the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it would temporarily allow CDL skills test examiners to also administer the written CDL tests.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 13, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states increase weight limits for essential freight, truck stops object to food trucks in rest areas, and FMCSA extends the HOS exemptions another month.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 10, 2020
To forestall the cutting off of the vital supply chain of new drivers the nation's largest association of commercial driving schools has led a coalition of major corporations, associations and commercial driving schools to persuade federal and state officials to open their licensing offices to continue to offer CLP and CDL services.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 8, 2020
California's commercial carriers, already embroiled in the fight over the new AB-5 law that challenges their use of independent contractors, have now found themselves caught in a "no good deed goes unpunished" catch-22 because of their benevolence in offering COVID-19 assistance to those contractors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 6, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Schneider admits mistake in distributing inadequate wipes to its drivers, a Change.org petition opens to aid truckers, and Teamsters Canada demands reopening of rest rooms and rest areas.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 3, 2020
In an article at Automotive World the authors say that trucking industry participants ignore new autonomous vehicle technologies at their peril, predicting that within a relatively short time frame, within the next 15 years, forward-thinking larger carriers will have between 20 percent and 40 percent of their fleets as Level 4 autonomous Class 8 trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 1, 2020
Fear of COVID-19 panickers and of jails being emptied of prisoners has prompted the Small Business in Transportation Coalition to petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to enforce preemption of Federal gun regulations over state laws.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 30, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the CVSA postpones May's International Roadcheck, register for a free COVID-19 webinar, FHA urges states to keep rest areas open, and fewer cars mean faster freight deliveries.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 27, 2020
The Federal government has issued new guidelines for truck drivers and employers over the past couple of days explaining how certain waivers might work during this period of reacting to the COVID-19 virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 25, 2020
Investor money going to other autonomous vehicle startups instead of to his company, and a downturn in freight rates, is the reason given by Starsky Robotics co-founder Stefan Seltz-Axmacher for ending Starsky’s experiment with remote-driven trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 23, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states open up more truck parking during COVID-19 panic, FMCSA expands HOS waiver, and freight prices increase amid COVID-19 worries.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 20, 2020
Those of us who are pretty sick and tired of the "All coronavirus all the time" current news cycle are not going to find any relief in today's Trucking Truth News. But, unlike a lot of news going around about COVID-19 we actually have a positive slant for truck drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 18, 2020
On Friday, in answer to President Trump's declaration of a national emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a nationwide exemption to hours of service rules for truckers transporting essential supplies, equipment and persons in support of relief efforts.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 16, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Western Express, Inc., of Tennessee digs out from tornado aftermath, a big rig driver is involved in two fatal crashes within six minutes, and another trucking firm quits due to rising insurance premiums.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 13, 2020
Daimler Trucks North America has announced a late 2021 market launch of its heavy duty Freightliner eCascadia and its lighter eM2 electric commercial trucks. Both electric trucks are currently undergoing real-world customer testing, mostly in the Los Angeles basin area.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 11, 2020
As commercial carriers acquire more telematics capabilities it was only a matter of time before someone came along and offered a way to integrate all of that information into a way to track, coach and train drivers, even to the point of making decisions about letting a driver go.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 9, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul a UK research study finds a correlation between high-caffeine consumption and crashes, Amazon tells its drivers to stay home if they feel sick, and the FMCSA holds a trucking safety summit.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 6, 2020
A company out of Michigan unveiled last week a 15-pound device that can be retrofitted to just about any existing trailer landing gear mechanism that takes all of the work and strain out of retracting or lowering a landing gear.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 4, 2020
While many carriers are faced with high turnover and struggle with ways to overcome it one company has put the whole issue to rest – and reaped rewards for its efforts.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 2, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul DOT lays out CBD info, FMCSA finds 8,000 violations in first weeks of Clearinghouse, and laptop theft lands an Alabama trucker in prison.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 28, 2020
Taking a page from the ride-sharing playbook a Canada company offers the same kind of service for truckers to have access to trailers. The company, vHub, has announced its desire to expand its services globally, beginning with the United States.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 26, 2020
A watermelon association convention might not be the first thing that comes to a trucker's mind in looking for insight into his profession, but a speaker at the February 21 National Watermelon Association convention offered an interesting take on several aspects of the industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 24, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul a company moves forward with autonomous, electric yard trucks, Knight-Swift partners with Truckstop.com for load brokering, and a TA security guard shoots a driver who was parked in a reserved spot.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 21, 2020
With competition to recruit new drivers still fierce despite the declining freight numbers third-party training providers are touting their systems for getting new-hires up to speed and driving safely as efficiently as possible.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 19, 2020
Despite a November 2019 executive order by Idaho Governor Brad Little temporarily allowing transportation of industrial hemp through the state of Idaho, actions taken against three truckers discovered transporting hemp earlier in 2019 still stand.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 17, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, Tennessee's Howard Baer's Inc calls is quits, signs a carrier might be on the verge of closing, and five ways carriers should consider attracting and retaining drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 14, 2020
To help alleviate the pain of long wait times at shippers a mobile app developer company called Truckerd-In has created an app that they hope will get accepted by drivers and shippers alike that allows drivers to communicate with shippers via their smart phones rather than by in-person and standing in lines.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 12, 2020
The United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety invited testimony from trucking representatives on February 4 to allow them to sound off with their opinions on the U.S. trucking industry … and committee members got an earful.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 10, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul TCA announces top 20 fleets to drive for, FMCSA delays implementation of its ELDT rule, and Cold Carriers Logistics closes its doors to bankruptcy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 7, 2020
While Baylor Trucking is not one of the Big 10 in the commercial carrier lineup the recent ELD outage experienced by the 240-truck fleet illustrates the numerous issues that can arise when a company is fully converted to ELD and telematics technology and that technology fails.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 3, 2020
Kellylynn McLaughlin, a driver and training engineer for Schneider National, has been named as Women In Trucking Association's first ambassador in its just-launched Driver Ambassador program.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 3, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul ATA attends White House signing of the USMCA, AB-5 to be challenged in 9th Circuit Court, and most physically demanding jobs are ranked.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 31, 2020
Drivers and their compliance with driver requirements will be the focus of this year's International Roadcheck when the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will conduct an vastly increased number of inspections over a 72-hour period in May.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 29, 2020
There appears to be a growing movement among state legislatures now to address the issue of lane blocking.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 27, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Pilot Flying J announces a name change to Pilot Corporation, CRST and Swift continue to battle it out in appeals court, and Schneider wins a 2020 BIG Innovation Award.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 24, 2020
The Truckload Carriers Association has named seven drivers to its Highway Angels program, earning each of them a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. Each of their employers also receives a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 22, 2020
This was an ugly weekend for drivers caught out in the major snow, sleet and ice storm in the Midwest. That same storm quickly moved into the Northeast causing highway closures and vehicle travel restrictions.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 20, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul U.S. Senators demand smart phone map apps update with truck-specific information, FHWA to study truck parking, ATA applauds the USMCA trade agreement passage, and FMCSA conducts a truck crash survey.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 17, 2020
So far, 35 states have some form of a policy regarding testing of autonomous vehicles on their highways. And some 50 cities have seen pilot tests of autonomous vehicles on their roads, or are planning to allow testing in the near future. But following the results of research on autonomous vehicles by the American Transportation Research Institute, autonomous semi truck innovators are hoping that Congress will step up and propose legislation tying separate state and local AV regulations into one national policy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 15, 2020
Departing a little bit from our usual fare at Trucking Truth News this article in the South China Morning Post about truck drivers in mainland China caught our eye for the similarities with driver complaints in America, but also with the different difficulties that drivers in China are faced with.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 13, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul another court rules against California's AB-5, a truckers' coalition takes on FMCSA, and Can Opener Bridge continues to entertain.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 10, 2020
In a decision on January 6 that could have far-reaching consequences for every carrier operating in California, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling granting Walmart's California drivers lost wages for time spent on their 10-hour layover break while they are responsible for their truck.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 8, 2020
Women in Trucking and Walmart have joined together to find a deserving female driver for their first-ever Female Driver of the Year award. This driver will then be presented the award at the March 27 Mid America Trucking Show's Salute to Women Behind the Wheel.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 6, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, Sweatshop on Wheels video, a Federal District Court judge exempts truckers from AB-5, and another carriers closes its doors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 3, 2020
Not surprisingly, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration dominated the news that directly impacts commercial truck drivers. In fact, five of the 10 articles in this, albeit subjective, selection of the top stories on Trucking Truth in 2019, were the result of activity out of the offices of that regulatory agency.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 1, 2020
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is invoking an almost two-decades old provision and will require carriers to double the number of random drug tests they perform on their drivers next year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 30, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Neuron EV introduces a new EV semi, ATA reports that November freight tonnage is down but driver turnover increases, a driver was found dead on the Grapevine, and runaway loose truck tires demolish a parked car.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 27, 2019
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Association hard deadline for enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate took a dark turn today as a major carrier was put out of service for 10 hours just as millions were supposed to be receiving special deliveries.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 25, 2019
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against FleetCor, a multi-billion dollar company that provides fuel card services to businesses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 23, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a Congressman from Texas takes the FMCSA to task for ineffective enforcement of driver coercion, CARB pushes for zero emissions, and truck driving is highest rating for occupational fatalities.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 20, 2019
Yesterday, Tuesday, December 17, is the day that law enforcement ended any kind of reprieve for truckers found to be driving without a fully compliant electronic logging device … in other words, no more grandfather, no more exceptions.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 18, 2019
State commercial licensing agencies get a three-year reprieve from the mandatory compliance with the new Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse mandate that goes into effect on January 6, 2020.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 16, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul J.B. Hunt participates in Wreaths Across America, a self-driving truck makes a cross-country butter run, and states sign on to a zero emission goal for big rig trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 13, 2019
From among the stories of driver abandonment and hardship resulting from the largest truckload carrier bankruptcy in American history there are emerging heart-warming human-interest stories of just what it means to be a part of the truck driver community, where drivers take care of each other.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, December 11, 2019
Amazon is taking a revolutionary approach to paying drivers who will be hauling their cargo … changing the way drivers have been paid since about the 1930s. Amazon has been using a method for the past couple of years to pay drivers by the day, eschewing the almost century-long method of paying drivers by the mile.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 27, 2019
There is no question that freight is down from the heydays during 2018 when commercial carriers were scrambling to find extra capacity, and experiencing a driver shortage with their need to put men and women behind the wheel to haul that expanded freight volume.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 25, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul -- Fallout from California's AB-5 continues, winter weather resources, and Louisiana's ransomware attack affects trucking companies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 22, 2019
One would think that commercial carriers would want all the shipping customers they could handle, and would do anything to hang on to them. And, statistically, more than half of fleets surveyed by CCJ say they rarely give shipping customers the old heave ho. But that leaves the other nearly half of all carriers who are constantly evaluating the profitability of continuing with certain shippers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 20, 2019
With the driver shortage in view, and having an eye toward attracting prospective new drivers to its company, Schneider National, Inc., announced it is donating 10 used Schneider tractors to CDL training programs at four community and technical colleges. And two U.S. senators introduced a bill last week that would create a "Women of Trucking" advisory board reporting to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 18, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul the CTA files a lawsuit against California's AB-5, Highway Heroes seek nominations, and Iowa DOT posts a "Move Over" crash video.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 15, 2019
Two years after rolling out a prototype Class 8 electric semi truck, appropriately named "Tesla Semi," Tesla will unveil this week a new version that incorporates autonomous features. While some Tesla Semis have been spotted on America's roads, full production will not begin for another year or so.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 13, 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's considering whether to delay implementation of one leg of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, originally set for full enforcement on January 6, 2020, has created a bit of drama in the trucking industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 11, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul PBS examines AI and it's eventual effect on drivers' jobs, truckers are arrested for a CRV scam, truckers protest AB-5, and ELD quit working for thousands of drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 8, 2019
Trucking Truth News has reported recently on several high-dollar truck accident lawsuit settlements, with several of the high-profile lawsuits originating in the New Orleans area; which has been hard hit by what, for all intents and purposes, appear to be a rash of fraudulent lawsuits. That pattern of seeming insurance fraud has come to the attention of the United States District Attorney's Office investigators, and federal judges presiding over several Louisiana truck accident cases have put those cases on hold pending investigations into the "victims'" alleged fraudulent practices.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 6, 2019
The mission of Trucking Truth is to help prospective new drivers make important decisions about starting their driving careers – like, which training/licensing method is best, and which are the best companies to begin driving for, among others. And, while many independent-minded new drivers initially believe they would be happier going on their own as owner-operators, Trucking Truth generally discourages new drivers from taking that route.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 4, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul the FMCSA declares emergency rules suspensions for wildfires and winter weather, Idaho transportation officials say to watch out for snow plows, and a FedEx employee is charged with receiving more than $1 million in bribes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 1, 2019
United States Custom and Border Patrol agents say that increased security at the U.S. border with Mexico is resulting in more migrants taking the risk of being transported via semi trailers – sometimes with deadly consequences.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 30, 2019
As the dust settles on the recently passed new California independent contractor law motor carrier companies and independent drivers are scrambling to make sense of the law and to decide what to do about it.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 28, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul simulator training should encourage millennial recruitment, Truckers Christmas Group ramps up, four fleets unhappy with Navistar settlement.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 25, 2019
It's probably safe to say that all truck drivers are aware that each of the 50 states has a "Move Over" law. However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it seems that 71 percent of other drivers haven't got the memo, and whoosh by dangerously close to law enforcement personnel, emergency vehicles and tow trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 23, 2019
America's 1.8 million truck drivers haul some 71 percent of this country's freight, amounting to an $800 billion dollar chunk of the economy. So, the question remains: Why don't truck drivers wield this supposed influence and strike nationally, ending their grievances and bettering their situation?
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 21, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul passenger car drivers think they are safer drivers than truck drivers, the spotted lanternfly still on the move, and women drivers enjoy the equal pay of truck driving.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 18, 2019
In answer to the proposed new FMCSA hours of service rules, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has given the FMCSA a 15-page letter to digest that is compiled from a survey conducted among some of the 160,000 members who collectively own and operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 16, 2019
Over the past several years, the number of large trucks on our roadways has continued to increase. Along with the growing number of miles driven by truckers has come an overall increase in crash rates and truck-related crash deaths.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 14, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Amazon orders a fleet of new day cabs, a legislator is under fire for lack of disclosure with trucking insurance bill, and a Washington trucking group petitions the FMCSA.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 11, 2019
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear is fed up with exorbitant lawsuits against trucking companies and their drivers, and is asking trucking industry leaders to join him in lobbying Congress for tort reform legislation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 9, 2019
"In trucking, 20 pounds can make all the difference." That's the catchy phrase headlining the top of the Mutts4Trucks website announcing a new campaign pairing truck drivers with dog companions.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 7, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul: Is the sky falling for ag haulers? Man pleads guilty to fraudulent freight brokering, FMCSA committee discusses HOS changes, FMCSA opens the Clearinghouse to registrations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 4, 2019
Edging out its competition in the race for commercial drone deliveries, the drone subsidiary for UPS became the first in the field to receive Part 135 Standard certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 2, 2019
Besides filling drivers' seats, carriers are benefiting from an added bonus by hiring women – it appears that they are safer drivers than their male counterparts in most categories.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 30, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Embark expands and adds LA and Phoenix hubs, FMCSA announces safety grants, Covenant exits Mexico routes, and some interesting trucking stats.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 27, 2019
In a looming battle between Federal supremacy and States' rights reminiscent of the Obama administration campaign against the State of Arizona a few years ago, but on opposite ends of the ideological political spectrum, the Trump administration has all but declared war on the State of California.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 25, 2019
As if California truckers didn't have enough to worry about with the signing of the independent contractors law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, a proposed new law that mostly flew under the radar got signed into effect by him on Friday that requires smog testing on heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 23, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Volvo introduces its dynamic steering, Meals for 18 Wheels seeks volunteers, trucks nabbed in speeding crackdown, OOIDA opposes trucking legislation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 20, 2019
Continuing Trucking Truth's unofficial series on telematics and other advanced technologies in the trucking industry we take a look at how the insurance industry is reacting to this new dynamic, and how that interest by insurers benefits carriers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 18, 2019
Despite its many advantages, a significant number of fleets don't intend to implement new telematics technology beyond what is required by the electronic logging device mandate – which has a final full-compliance deadline of December 16 of this year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 16, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Walmart promotes a Driver Appreciation Week video, expert says it is churn, not driver shortage, California passes an independent contractor bill, and hemp drivers accept pleas.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 13, 2019
It's time for Trucking Truth to again highlight some caring truck drivers who were honored last week by the Truckload Carriers Association as Highway Angels.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 11, 2019
While Class 8 tractors are getting smarter, and even learning to drive themselves -- and getting all of the media attention – there's one other element in the trucking supply chain that is getting a boost in smarts as well, but still riding relatively under the radar.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 9, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA deadline for comments coming up, truck orders are on the decline, and new maritime law will affect diesel fuel price and availability.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 6, 2019
A recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board not only kicks the teeth out of the independent contractor/employee controversy, but sets the stage for some major head-butting with California authorities if that state's latest attempt to force employee status on independent truck drivers is successful.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 4, 2019
In March of this year Trucking Truth ran a comprehensive article about FMCSA's new drug and alcohol clearinghouse. As the time to allow registering with the new clearinghouse approaches this fall, questions and concerns have begun to surface.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 2, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul, logistics aid organization mobiles for Hurricane Dorian, a speed limiter bill is "retired", and Pilot Flying J mounts "Thank a Driver" campaign
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 30, 2019
After a weeklong trial wrought with emotion that ended on August 23, a Muscogee County, Georgia, jury awarded more than a quarter of a billion dollars to the family of one of the women killed in a five-person fatal accident when a driver for Schnitzer Southeast crossed the centerline and hit the family's SUV head on.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 28, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Freightliner delivers two all-electric Class A trucks, a study finds top cities for truck driver jobs, and a Missouri State legislator drafts a bill regulating autonomous trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 23, 2019
The effects of last year's California Supreme Court ruling against Dynamex Operations West, Inc., continue to reverberate through the halls of California's state legislative bodies with the ultimate result that California will no longer recognize a truck driver's status as an independent contractor.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 21, 2019
TuSimple, the San Diego-based company that also has operations in China, announces that United Parcel Service has made arrangements with them to test the viability of using autonomously-driven tractor trailers to haul packages within its UPS network.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 19, 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has finally published its long-anticipated notice of proposed rulemaking on changes to hours of service for commercial motor vehicle drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 16, 2019
Today, beginning drivers and grizzled veterans alike will appreciate that there is a new technology called AMT, automated manual transmission, that is becoming increasingly integrated into commercial fleets as well as driving schools' lesson trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 14, 2019
Citing frustration by truck industry decision makers in having to use crash data that is almost two decades old, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is asking the U.S. Senate to add to the 2020 transportation bill funding for a new study of commercial vehicle crashes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 12, 2019
Friday Short Haul - HOS revisions are still under OMB review, Legislators introduce an AEB bill for trucks, and Koch & Sons is sued for sex discrimination.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 9, 2019
Kodiak Robotics, Inc., another startup in the autonomous trucking industry, this one being only 16 months old, claims a first with its commercial freight business hauling middle-mile highway routes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 7, 2019
City of New York spokespeople, fed up with an increase in cyclist fatalities involving large trucks, are calling for the New York Police Department to target oversize trucks, and especially trucks driving outside of designated routes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 5, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul CRST awarded $15.5 lawsuit against Swift, OOIDA opposes legislation hiking insurance rates, and UPS has an in-house navigation system that saves millions a year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 2, 2019
While the big rig driver shortage has been getting all the press these days, there's another truck industry-related labor shortage that has been flying under the radar – diesel mechanics and technicians.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 31, 2019
Infrastructure projects in 19 states are proposed to receive $856 million in grants from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program, Elaine Chao, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, announced last week.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 29, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul the DOL writes an opinion on sleeper berth pay, UPS set for nationwide drone deliveries, and Geowiz offers no-fee, FMCSA-compliant ELD logging.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 26, 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released a notice into the Federal Register yesterday announcing the agency will be undergoing an investigation to "understand the prevalence, seriousness, and nature of the problem of harassment and assaults against truckers."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 24, 2019
CDL Life, a trucking news and entertainment website, underwent an experiment recently to illustrate the danger for truckers of anti-idling laws.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 22, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Utah experiences a rash of truck rollovers, new truck designers consider aging driver population, FMCSA permanently bans human-trafficking drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 19, 2019
The city of Key West might be the first in a wave of jurisdictions nationwide to severely regulate or outright ban LED advertising trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 17, 2019
We all know that for learning truck driving skills nothing beats being in the driver's seat with a qualified instructor sitting in the passenger seat. And while there are a number of YouTube videos offering instruction as a second-best choice, none have the thoroughness and realism of those produced by YouTuber David Crowley of My Trucking Skills. He has taken his instructional technique to a higher level – literally.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 15, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Rhode Island rakes in big bucks with truck tolls, man guilty of sneaking illegal aliens onto trucks, and California Senate considers contractor driver law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 12, 2019
With the hard deadline for ELD compliance looming ever closer, and with no more extensions or grandfathering to be counted on, a significant portion of commercial carriers industry wide have yet to install the devices in their fleets.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 10, 2019
A relatively new "boot" device, combined with draconian Walmart parking enforcement, is becoming the nemesis of truck drivers wishing for nothing more than a quiet, uninterrupted night's sleep.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 8, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Prime Inc files complaint against Amazon, a mother challenges proposed HOS rules changes, ATA announced driver appreciation week.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 5, 2019
If you find yourself on the road this Fourth of July, like many truck drivers do, you might be wanting to display your American pride by flying the American flag on your truck. But don't be too quick to mount that flag any which way without considering what is the legal, ethical and respectful way to do it.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 3, 2019
Roundabouts: They're either a boon to traffic efficiency or a truck driver's worst nightmare. Which is it?
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 1, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA proposes new rule regarding skills testing, a study looks at the driver shortage, Idaho postpones hemp sentencing, and Starksky remote pilots a big rig on Florida highway.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 28, 2019
The world watched in horror last year as some of America's worst wildfires in history took a record number of lives, cost billions of dollars in damages, destroyed one whole town, closed highways and disrupted commerce. Now government agencies responsible for predicting wildfire potential are saying the West Coast this year should be preparing for a repeat of last year's devastation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 26, 2019
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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