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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 announces HOS rules report date, locals protest proposed new Love's, and Falcon drivers get hired.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 3, 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
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
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
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
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
Recently, we had a discussion with experienced drivers on what changes they would make to the hours-of-service rules that all interstate CDL license holders are bound by.
Patrick Netzel on Tue, May 30, 2017
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