In this Friday Short Haul, Amazon is looking to almost triple the number of delivery partners to add to its fleet, Dollar General is opening thousands of new stores and needs more drivers, and Werner's appeal of the $89 million nuclear verdict is still on hold.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 16, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, OOIDA discusses AB5, married couple sentenced for their parts in truck crash scam ring, and Werner denied motion to dismiss in a wage-related class-action lawsuit.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 2, 2021
Authorities prosecuting suspects charged in the truck-accident insurance scams in the New Orleans area that had been in operation since about 2015 continue to rack up guilty pleas – to date, another eight have pled guilty recently, bringing the total to 22 out of the 33 who have been indicted.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 21, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, TuSimple stages a watermelon run to prove self-driving viability, Schneider earns a spot on Forbes's top companies for diversity, and a pre-settlement company expects an uptick in summer accidents.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 4, 2021
One highway in Florida, Interstate 4, which runs between Tampa and Daytona Beach, has the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous highway in America – a distinction that the highway has earned year after year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 2, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, a bill is introduced in the House to mandate speed limiters for large trucks, ATRI announces this year's research priorities, and a shortages of pallets adds to supply chain woes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 28, 2021
Details of the re-introduced Insurance Act bill that proposes increasing the minimum insurance requirement for commercial trucks to nearly $5 million are not available, but the bill is drawing a considerable amount of comments on both sides of the issue.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 19, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul a startup has developed at break-away fifth wheel protecting tractors from trailer rollovers, HP has partnered with autonomous developer Embark, and the Texas bill protecting carriers from excessive lawsuits passes out of committee.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 14, 2021
It’s time to feature some more recipients of Truckload Carriers Association’s Highway Angel award program. Honors this time went to a driver who helped the victim of a semi hit-and-run crash, to a driver who came to the aid of a fellow truck driver after a crash, another driver who stopped to help a young woman whose car went into a ditch, and to twin brothers who helped rescue crash victims whose car had gone into a ravine.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 10, 2021
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is making a major push this week to alert the public about work zone safety. The agency is kicking off the beginning of the nation's yearly roadway repair and construction season with it annual program titled this year, "National Work Zone Awareness Week -- Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 28, 2021
Here are the latest commercial drivers to receive their Highway Angel wings from Truckload Carriers Association.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 22, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
Stopping to aid motorists during horrific crashes earn truck drivers awards as Truckload Carriers Associations Highway Angels
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 17, 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
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
"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 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
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
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
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 - 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 top shippers are named, insurance rates increase, wheel spikes are questioned and Women in Trucking seeks candidates.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 21, 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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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