Profile For DaveW

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.

Policy brief makes a strong case for commercializing rest areas

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.

Friday Short Haul - FMCSA's TeenZone, Safety blitz, and Knight-Swift pay increase

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.

States preparing for another spotted lanternfly season

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.

Carriers encouraged to hire more entry-level drivers

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.

Friday Short Haul - Embark AV interface, OOIDA letter, Crete pay

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.

Website ranks carriers by driver pay - Sysco at the top

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.

Opponents voice concerns about Amazon's Driveri surveillance system1>

Dave W.,

Good morning sir. Just catching up on the posts here on TT and was reading Anne A's replies to you and didn't realize that you have a book out. Can you tell me the title so I can go to Amazon and order a copy? Thank you so much.

Sure, it's "Crimson Highway: A Hugh Mann Novel." Thanks. And I hope you enjoy it.

Also, Mr. Dave W. I JUST got your book delivered via Amazon, TODAY! Other half has to work this weekend, so . . . I've got a 'me' project/pleasure in store~!! (Let me know if you'd like a review...here, there, or anywhere; I'm excited, and will probably start reading tonight if I don't go w/Tom!)

Thanks for all you do, Good Sir.

~ Anne ~

Anne, I really like your enthusiasm. 😊 I hope my story is worthy of it. I actually first wrote it about seven years ago, published it, took it down, and re-published it. This time around, it does seem to be better accepted.

I'm on Chapter 37 right now of the sequel, almost across the finish line with it. I've got the third in the series banging around in my brain right now as well ready to go as soon as I finish the sequel. I think writing trucking news for TT has helped a lot because of being exposed to so much real-world truck news. The sequel is my fictional version of the articles I have been writing about the fake-crash insurance scam ring that was terrorizing the area around New Orleans. The third in the series will be about -- what else -- human trafficking across the Mexican border.

And yes please. If you enjoy the story I would appreciate any kind of good word you can put out about it. So far, it has gotten favorable reviews from a wide range of readers, with the only negative review saying it would have been five stars except for the violence. I'll take that as a favorable review. 😊

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.

Friday Short Haul - Embark and ADOT, Livestock haulers, and truck parking

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.

WIT honors 73 "Top Women to Watch"

Here are the latest commercial drivers to receive their Highway Angel wings from Truckload Carriers Association.

TCA honors four new Highway Angels

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.

Friday Short Haul - Truck wings, miles traveled tax, left-lane laws

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.

Texas doing something about nuclear verdicts against truckers

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.

First autonomous vehicle program student to graduate this semester

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.

Friday Short Haul - U.S. Xpress report, DRIVE Safe Act, Illegals

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.

California's job-killing AB 5 about to go Federal

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Associated has entered the fray in the newly resurrected effort to propose a mandated Federal speed-limiter law.

Federal speed-limiter mandate up for discussion again

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.

Friday Short Haul - Florida's SafeDRIVE, hair test update, human smuggler caught with 41 aboard

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.

Senators propose legislation to promote women in the trucking industry