You might remember at the end of 2021 there was a port backlog crisis that choked an already strained supply chain. To avoid this from happening, some members of Congress are suggesting a bill to enlist the help of a previously-barred demographic: drivers not old enough to drink.DetailsTruck drivers under the age of 21 are […]
On January 16th there was an event called the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue (HDAD) conference in Texas. HDAD describes itself on its website as, “an outlook conference specifically directed toward the heavy duty aftermarket supplier industry.” One of the presenters there was MacKay & Company, which is similar to FTR and ACT Research but focusing […]
The trucking industry is full of researchers trying to find the next big thing in replacing diesel as the main source of fuel. Between electricity, various forms of natural gas, and hydrogen cells, it can be a lot to consider. Now, a new contender has entered the ring that has certainly caught us by surprise.DetailsAmmonia […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering increasing the amount of readily-available assets (mostly cash) that a broker must have on hand to pay fleets who have completed deliveries for them, as written on a proposal in the Federal Register. Details The way things are now, a broker is required to keep $75,000 in […]
The trucking industry has been hard at work these last few months due to the holiday season. As a direct result, fleets were scrambling to get more bodies into their trucks. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has the numbers.December 2022 NumbersDecember 2022’s preliminary estimate stands at 1,601,500. This is either the third or fourth […]
2020 was certainly a special year. A recently released report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) can give us some insight into how the year that most people stayed home impacted the trucking industry.Facts & FiguresThe entire document is over 230 pages long and covers many various aspects of the transportation industry, including freight […]
December 2022 marks the third month in a row of continuous decline for big rig orders, but when four months ago was a record month for sales, the industry still has plenty of diesel fuel left in its tank. FTR and ACT Research have the numbers.December 2022 NumbersACT Research has their preliminary numbers at 30,300 […]
There are dozens upon dozens of different obstacles that autonomous trucking needs to overcome before it can become a reality and replace humans behind the wheel. One that is seldom talked about is what happens during a vehicle malfunction. A robotics start-up called Kodiak Robotics is hoping to program an autonomous truck that can handle […]
Loyal readers may remember what we had written about in the past, how California was experiencing intense drought and how the federal government may want to install a pipeline that can distribute water from where it is flooding to where it is dry. That will not be needed anymore. California is experiencing intense downpour to […]
Happy New Year everyone! New Year’s day typically entails lots of partying, friends, and the start of new laws because it is convenient.The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced an update to a rule regarding the ban of older engines, due to their disproportionate emissions. As of January 1st, it is now illegal to drive […]
The holiday season is now in the rearview mirror, so now we can look at the data from December and determine what effect the holidays have had on the trucking industry. In regards to freight rates, it appears things are going back to normal for the industry.December 2022 NumbersDry van increased three cents to $2.41 […]
There are numerous reasons why speeding is a bad idea; the ticket that you get if you are caught is one of them. Rosenblum Law, a legal firm that fights traffic cases, has compiled the costs for CDL drivers speeding more than 15 miles per hour above the speed limit.MethodologyRosenblum Law found the costliest speeding […]
We have come to the end of another year. Perhaps it is just us, but this one seemed to be the fastest one of the 2020s decade thus far. Here are the biggest articles of each month in the trucking industry, as voted by your eyes!JanuaryIn case you need a timeframe reference for how long […]
The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced its plans of using $3.4 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 on ports of entry. The money will be spent on fifty projects in eleven states to revitalize the infrastructure of international commerce, with both our northern and southern neighbors.DetailsThere are fifty total projects […]
J.D. Valuation Services has reported the average auction prices for used Class 8 trucks in November 2022. It is what we had anticipated the month prior: the intersection of supply and demand determining price is still the king of economics.November 2022 DetailsModel year 2020: $96,350: an increase of $7,325 (8.2%) from the month prior.2019: $77,767; […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its most recent final rule regarding regulations for heavy-duty trucks. The entire document is over 1,100 pages long. Would you be willing to settle for an abridged version?DetailsHere are just a few of the regulations for the 2027 model year:Reduced tailpipe NOx limits to a level 80%-plus below […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that if current winter storms are any indicator of what is to come, the start of 2023 is going to be a time of great cold. As such, the FMCSA is giving hours-of-service exemptions to haulers providing heating oil, such as propane and natural gas, to numerous […]
On December 13th, scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California were able to use nuclear fusion to generate more energy than was used to conduct the procedure, marking the first step in the potential for the use of nuclear energy for everyday use. This has more implications on trucking than you may first […]
We have written about the truck parking problem for quite some time now, but there is a question that we have not really addressed. If there really are eleven trucks for each designated truck parking spot in the nation, where are truckers stopping to get rest? One tech company sought to find out. Details Lytx […]
All workers in the trucking industry may find themselves with intense work this holiday season despite record employment, as November 28th, 2022 was the biggest day for shopping in the United States ever, and most of it was done online.DetailsCyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, is the day of the year that generates the […]
November’s truck month sales are a repeat episode of October’s: the count is high, much higher than the 2021 equivalent, but has decreased from the month prior. ACT and FTR have the numbers!November 2022 NumbersACT has preliminary orders at 33,000 while FTR reports 34,300. While this is lower than October’s estimate of 43,200, it is […]
Truckers have a curiosity for velocity, as the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced the results of this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week at the end of last month. The results were interesting, to say the least.DetailsIt is common knowledge that since the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdowns that put fewer vehicles on the […]
On December 1st, two senators from both sides of the political aisles introduced the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act. Should it be passed into law, it would enable $755 million of investment spending into public truck parking spaces. Details The phenomenon of truck parking demand exceeding supply is nothing new. Some city governments are taking […]
It has finally happened. A day we almost thought would never come due to delay on top of delay, but it is finally here.At the GigaFactory party in Nevada, Elon Musk did the honors of handing the first Tesla Semi vehicle key card to the CEO of PepsiCo North America. Is this the start of […]
Every month the Bureau of Labor Statistics updates its estimates for job numbers in various industries for the past three months. Here is what is going on in NAICS 484: the trucking industry.November 2022 NumbersThe preliminary employment count for November 2022 is 1,601,300. A new record for the industry!The initial revision for October 2022 is […]
The quiet before the storm of the holiday season.Freight rates have encountered another slight decrease similar to what happened in October. Here are the DAT numbers.November 2022 NumbersDry van decreased another four cents to $2.38 per mile.Flatbed, like the month prior, dropped four cents. It is now averaging $2.83 per mile.Reefer rates stood stagnant at […]
If you have been watching gasoline and diesel fuel prices like we have, you might have noticed a trend regarding the two liquid fuels. Gasoline has its prices vary over time drastically, but diesel continues to command high prices. Why is this? There are numerous reasons that add up, here are two factors you may […]
Fleets operating within the drayage profession may want to start looking in the general direction of the sunrise, as an interesting phenomenon is happening regarding U.S. imports: some companies are opting to go around the United States rather than through it.Decrease at Long BeachExperts estimate that the amount of goods by weight being processed at […]
When you think of Tesla Motors, the human you are most likely to think of is Elon Musk. This article is instead about JB Straubel. He was the fifth employee to work at Tesla who only left the company as late as 2019, and now has his own company, Redwood Materials Inc.. It appears as […]
Much like with the truck sales numbers we have been seeing in the past few months, trailer sales are going through a renaissance at the moment, as supply chain issues that have been plaguing the trucking industry for numerous months are finally starting to clear up. ACT Research and FTR have the numbers!October 2022 NumbersACT […]
The month prior, September, was a record-breaking month for truck sales within the industry, so it was hardly feasible that October would be able to top it. While it predictably did not, it still outperformed the rest of the year by a wide margin. FTR has the numbers!October 2022 Sales NumbersFTR pins the preliminary net […]
What do you get when you ask truckers for help but also provide additional stipulations for them to do their jobs? You get a mess. This is what is happening in the state of New York, as the state government has declared both a State of Emergency and road closures for commercial vehicles. State of […]
We wrote earlier in the month how we were cautiously optimistic about the Tesla Semi becoming reality in the start of December, but now it looks like it has a 100% chance of becoming reality. Why? Because Tesla has announced a party to celebrate the end of the journey, and it would be embarrassing for […]
Chris Visser of J.D. Valuation Services calls the previous month of auctions for used Class 8 trucks to be a “market correction.” Based on the average prices that we had seen at the beginning of the year, we are inclined to agree with him.October 2022 NumbersModel year 2021: $151,905; $4,253 (2.9%) higher than September.2020: $122,088, […]
You may remember a month ago that we wrote about the case regarding RhodeWorks, a system of tolls that targeted truckers to raise revenue for infrastructure. One thing we mentioned that is worth repeating is that the $100 million that the RhodeWorks tolls accumulated over the duration of the litigation is theirs to keep. As […]
CALSTART is a non-profit nationwide organization hoping to help revolutionize the trucking industry through technological advancements in energy. To that end, they have created an online program called the Zero-Emission Technology Inventory (ZETI) Data Explorer. It is a cool tool that can help you, the truck driver/fleet owner, compare and contrast the specifications of current […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has a handful of events every year to make sure that the trucks on our roads and the drivers who operate them are fit to drive. In this case, they are announcing the 2023 events all at the same time, not counting the “surprise” events. Here is what they […]
While it is true that we are not going to run out of fuel any time soon, it is undeniable that people reliant on energy are feeling the strain of higher prices. In direct response to this, three states have enacted States of Emergencies to mitigate wallet damage.NebraskaGovernor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska has enacted a […]
We at TopMark Funding have been busy. So busy, that we skipped a month on posting about monthly jobs in the trucking industry according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This month, we are getting it out of the way immediately so as to not forget. October (and September) 2022 Numbers October 2022’s first […]
History repeats itself. In September, the month prior, the rates for all three forms of freight decreased. October also had decreases for the month, but the extent to which all three decreased was lower than it was before. With the holiday season quickly approaching, is this a sign of a turnaround? DAT Freight & Analytics […]
California is known for having some of the strictest trucking regulations in the country. While usually the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is satisfied with banning older year models of commercial vehicles as time marches on, they are proposing perhaps the greatest shift they have ever done: all fleets headquartered in California must be fully […]
Elon Musk has been in the news a lot lately, most notably for purchasing Twitter for $44 billion. While the media press is focusing on the sensationalism of his latest exploits, a far more important story is flying under the radar: the release of the Tesla Semi is currently set to be a month from […]
Interstate 40 may be one of the longest roads in the United States, but truckers traveling along it where Tennessee meets North Carolina will want to take a detour, state officials warn, as things are about to become a lot more slow-moving around the state border. Details Oftentimes a highway will have a bridge segmentally […]
J.D. Valuation Services reports that while some used truck models increased in value at auction and others decreased over the month of September, the decreases were larger than the increases and created a net drop in used auction rates for the month.September 2022 NumbersModel year 2021: $147,458 (No comparison to August)2020: $89,336, a decrease of […]
It is late October, which means the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has posted its results from its annual survey of driver issues. The results may surprise you.MethodologyThe methodology is the same as it was when we covered the results in 2020. 4,200 people were given a list of 28 different points of contention, and […]
The Department of Transportation’s latest Significant Rulemaking Report shows various actions it wants to implement in governing safety on the road. Speed Limiters on the Table The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to continue considering applying speed limiters to trucks with electronic control units. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson knows how grossly unpopular the […]
Coming hot off the heels of the news of OPEC Plus slashing oil production by two million barrels of oil per day, Joseph Biden announced that he will once again be tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help alleviate prices. Details The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a well of crude oil near the Gulf […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in 2021 were estimated to be around 43,000, which is a 10.5% increase from an already high prior year. This news has led to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to tweet about how safety standards on the road should be closer to […]
Thirty-one months to flatten the curve. In our last update regarding the coronavirus State of Emergency from the FMCSA, we talked about how the change in pace from the exemption being renewed every ninety days to every forty-five days could mean the Declaration may be on its last legs. It appears that that rings true, […]
The water distribution problem continues. As recovery from Hurricane Ian happens in the easternmost states, other states are suffering from a lack of water. The latest to join the trend is Oklahoma, upon which the governor has declared a State of Emergency.Hey, Hay!The typical Declaration is all about hours-of-service exemptions provided the driver does not […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is no stranger to having inspections on commercial vehicles for safety purposes, lest we forget the International Roadcheck that happened earlier this year. As it turns out, they have done another one, this time, the Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Road Blitz.DetailsIf this is your first time hearing about this event […]
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is not a stranger to speaking to stakeholders in the trucking industry. Just a little over a year since he spoke at a Mack Trucks Plant in Pennsylvania, he is back at it again at a Volvo Group powertrain plant in Maryland. While there, he spoke about the economy for the […]
The trucking industry is composed of numerous facets that all interconnect with one another. While it would be nice to say everything in the trucking industry is sunshine and roses all of the time, that is simply not the case and while most of the industry can be thriving, good news in some aspects of the trucking industry can sometimes lead to less favorable news in others. Case in point: freight rates taking a slight dip in the last month.
It is no secret that autonomous trucking has come a long way in the past decade, but also that it has at least a decade of development still left to go. This demands the question as to how far along autonomous trucks have come now. What is the longest ongoing stretch of distance an autonomous […]
When demand outpaces supply for an extended period of time, it is like a shaken bottle of soda. Eventually, it is going to erupt. According to the preliminary numbers provided by FTR, that is exactly what happened in September.September 2022 NumbersFTR estimates the sales for September 2022 to be 56,500 units. That is:169% more than […]
Truckers traveling through Georgia, including if they are hauling relief supplies related to Hurricane Ian, might want to plan their route further ahead, as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is closing lanes on the I-285 within the greater Atlanta area for numerous months.DetailsMaintaining infrastructure to avoid catastrophe is important. Doing so, however, has a […]
We do not post monthly updates for the ATA’s Truck Tonnage Index, which tracks a quality estimate of the total weight of freight hauled by all trucks in a month when compared to 2015. In any case, this is a special time and a cause for celebration, as the ATA Truck Tonnage Index is a […]
There appears to always be some weather phenomenon going on somewhere in the fifty states that comprise this country. This time, the topic of interest is Hurricane Ian, the second major hurricane of this year’s hurricane season. In response to it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a State of Emergency to […]
Tropical Depression Nine was spotted approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Florida on September 23rd, 2022, and the Sunshine State is expecting it to brush up against its shores. In a direct proactive response, Governor Ron DeSantis is issuing a State of Emergency that is fourteen sections long and is far longer than any typical Declaration […]
Truckers traveling along I-95 and other highways through Rhode Island have been paying tolls targeted towards them since 2018, but the U.S. District Court says that this must go on no longer.DetailsSince RhodeWork’s initial planning in 2015 the state has implemented twelve toll booth locations, with a thirteenth along the way had the U.S. District […]
America can always use more unsung heroes of the road. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis agrees with the sentiment, and on September 15th the governor granted $8.2 million dollars to five community colleges to boost their vocational trucking programs.DetailsFlorida is hoping that the one-time payment of $8.2 million will increase the number of truckers these five […]
International Roadcheck 2022 was a little over four months ago, and now the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has published its findings of the 72-hour inspection blitz across the North American continent.ResultsThe CVSA performed 59,026 inspections over 72 hours, or over thirteen per minute.Mexico continues to reign supreme of the three countries in terms of out-of-service […]
Of all the various regulations the FMCSA requires, the ELD mandate is one of the most confusing. Truckers are required to use an approved Electronic Logging Device, but seldom does the FMCSA update the list to show which are allowed and which are not. Now the FMCSA wants to revise its mandate, and it wants […]
On September 19th the Truck Safety Coalition released a document listing the number of fatalities for each state, both by total number and by population. Here are those results.MethodologyThe Truck Safety Coalition compiled data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on truck crash fatalities in 2020, the latest data, and compared it to […]
It is widely considered that the most dangerous part of a Class 8 truck is the driver behind the wheel. If he or she is not actively paying attention, catastrophic damage can occur. Autonomous trucking technology is slowly getting better, but long before trucks ever become fully automatic, they will become easier to handle but […]
We have talked before about an impending decrease in auction prices due to demand slowly decreasing as a direct result of higher prices, but has that happened yet? It is hard to say, as some year models have dropped and others have risen. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers.August 2022 NumbersModel Year 2021: No trucks […]
One of the less talked about obstacles for having trucks across the nation become fully electric is the strain on the power grid. Here in TopMark Funding’s home state of California, emergency declarations were put in place during a heatwave, asking citizens to not charge their electric cars because of the strain. This begs the […]
While the State of Emergency regarding hours-of-service and COVID-19 has been extended only forty-five days, its sister declaration regarding the handling of Commercial Learner’s Permits (CPLs) has been extended the typical ninety days.DetailsUnder normal circumstances, a CLP driver needs to have a driver with a CDL riding shotgun for the duration of training. With coronavirus […]
“Women are significantly underrepresented in the trucking industry, holding only 24 percent of all transportation jobs,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson once said in a statement. The Biden-Harris administration is interested in making the industry more representative of the population as a whole, and is founding the Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB).DetailsWOTAB’s inaugural committee […]
It is that time of year again. Do you love telling people your opinion? If you do, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) wants to know what your greatest priorities are regarding current trends within the trucking industry.DetailsThe survey can be found on the ATRI’s survey webpage. For its methodology, the survey gives you twenty-eight […]
The trucking industry is always changing, and the research organizations are always revising their numbers. As such, we wanted to give you an update not only for July’s sales numbers, but also a change to what happened in June. June Numbers Increase In a previous article we reported that trailer sales for June 2022 were […]
July 2022 was, as expected, a relatively weak month for truck sales. As such, it is hardly a surprise that the truck sales for August were significantly higher. FTR has the numbers.August 2022 Truck SalesFTR places their estimate for August 2022 truck sales at 21,400, which is an increase of about double what it was […]
The day has finally come.The federal district court that initially placed the injunction against California Assembly Bill 5 for trucking, at the behest of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, has removed that injunction as of August 29th. The California Trucking Association is not giving up!Timeline of EventsCalifornia’s Assembly Bill 5 became law at the […]
In a period of excessive inflation, this news is sure to bring a smile to any fleet owner’s face.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced via the Federal Register that it would reduce the United Carrier Registration fees by an average of 31% for 2023 and beyond.DetailsThe price cuts are as follows:0-2 vehicles: $59 to […]
We have written about railroad strikes before, but we have not yet discussed in detail to what extent it would impact the trucking industry. Chris Spear of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has an idea of what it would be. Details Trucking and railroad are invariably intertwined: oftentimes a railroad will cover the majority of […]
The trucking industry continues to roll on, with more drivers on the road than ever. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has posted updates. August 2022 Employment Numbers The first preliminary numbers for August 2022 pins the count at 1,595,500. July 2022’s second preliminary pegs the number at 1,594,700. This is a decrease of 300 from […]
The United States is suffering from a water distribution problem this summer: while the west coast cannot get enough water, the east coast is experiencing torrential downpour. As of the start of September seven states are undergoing States of Emergencies regarding water, be it a dearth or an abundance.AlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the […]
We were hoping on August 31st, the last day of the previous extension, that it would be the last. In the final hours, however, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the Declaration another 45 days. This is the first time that the regulatory body has extended it by this period of time, usually […]
The temperature across the nation is not the only thing that is white-hot right now, freight rates have been experiencing similar extremes these last handful of months. Like the weather of the year, it appears that the rates are starting to cool down.August 2022 Freight RatesDry van decreased eleven cents to $2.53 per mile.Flatbed decreased […]
Facemasks. Social distancing. Lockdowns. The list of the ramifications that this tiny crown-headed virus has caused the world is extensive. However, it forcing the world to become significantly more technological may work in the trucking industry’s favor. My Kingdom for a Spot If you have driven a truck for longer than a week, you understand […]
On August 24th, the BP Whiting refinery suffered a fire and for the time being is shut down for safety reasons. It is one of the largest refineries in the United States, processing around 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day. As a result of its closure, there is a shortage of various fuels in […]
Knowledgeable truckers know how to use Section 179 of the tax code to get a discount on their latest additions to their fleet. In this article we will go over things you should know about this trick for your truck, though understand that we are not tax lawyers.What is Section 179?Section 179 allows a business […]
We have been so busy with covering other aspects of the trucking industry that we let a monthly update slip through our fingers. To make up for it, here is a double feature covering the Class 8 sales for June and July, using numbers from FTR.June 2022 NumbersFTR pins the number of Class 8 truck […]
Another month, another round of used Class 8 auction rates from our friends at J.D. Valuation Services. In this case, the downward trend mostly continues as four out of five model years saw prices decline in varying levels of intensity.July 2022 NumbersModel year 2021: $145,278. A decrease of $8,611 (5.6%) from June.2020: $116,840, a $5,839 […]
When you think of Tesla Motors, there are two features that you think about: the long range by electric vehicle standards, and the autonomous driving features. The California Department of Motor Vehicles is putting an ax to the latter.DetailsCalifornia’s DMV is suing Tesla Motors, filing with the Office of Administrative Hearings to say that Tesla […]
The Inflation Reduction Act has been passed across party lines (51-50 in the Senate, 220-207 in the House of Representatives), and was signed by Joseph Biden when it came across his desk. How is it going to impact the nation’s truckers?Fast Forward on Green EnergyThe most notable change that the signed law has on the […]
We are currently in the middle of an anomaly where flatbed hauling is more lucrative on a per mile basis than reefer hauling. With reefers tending to attract a higher rate in the summer due to temperature control, it is likely that we will be seeing flatbed remain dominant throughout the rest of the year […]
We certainly did not expect to hear anymore news regarding the Tesla Semi until 2023, especially when the company has said that supply chain shortages have made it harder to build trucks due to the massive input required. Things are turning around, however, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced via Twitter that the automotive-tech […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as a part of last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is giving away $44 million in grants to different state CDL training programs. If you are a fleet hoping to get more drivers in your trucks, here is what you need to know.Details“FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and […]
Loyal readers of the blog may have noticed a not-so-subtle pattern of job numbers within the trucking industry. Since March of this year, the trucking industry has been consistently hiring, adding more jobs each month than the one prior. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has the numbers.July 2022 NumbersThe BLS pins the first preliminary number […]
It would not be a summer season in California without rampaging wildfires, would it? Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a State of Emergency.DetailsIn the middle of a historical drought, California is prime land for wildfires in the season with the highest temperature.While the fires have not burned to the same extent as the Dixie fire […]
The American Transport Research Institute wants to know your thoughts on driving-facing cameras. Are they a bastion of vindication from verdicts in the outcome of a crash, or are they a massive invasion of privacy? Details The survey, which you can take on the relevant ATRI webpage, is twenty questions, and takes no more than […]
Here at TopMark Funding’s headquarters near the capital of the sun-drenched California, we are suffering from a tremendous drought that has left us wondering where all the water has gone. It appears we finally have our answer: it is hitting Kentucky and West Virginia with great force. So much so, that the governors of both […]
With the ongoing supply chain backup, fleet owners are working harder than ever to buy the parts they need. Many have to shop outside of their normal network and turn to e-commerce.Navigating the e-commerce world can be a little daunting, but these 10 tips will ensure you make a smart, efficient, and accurate purchase.Do: Learn […]
In today’s world, the news moves quickly. We reported recently about how the AB-5 protests in the port of Oakland, Long Beach, and Los Angeles were subject to blockage due to protests against California’s Assembly Bill 5, which would outlaw the owner-operator model except under specific circumstances. At this point in time, however, things have […]
If you have taken a step outside in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that it is blisteringly hot outside. The Northern Hemisphere is suffering a massive heatwave.One of the common side effects for a heatwave is the drying out of vegetation, both alive and dead, increasing the risk of fire hazards. This […]
Do you consider the idea of a truck driver under the age of 21 able to drive from Redding, California to San Diego to be okay, but traveling from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas as unsafe to be an absurd notion? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is inclined to agree, and is […]
Truckers helping truckers!On July 15, 2022, Jim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, issued a declaration suspending the hours-of-service regulations in regards to the hauling of various petroleum-based fuels.DetailsThe entire problem is a logistics Catch-22, as truckers needing to haul fuels such as diesel and gasoline need diesel to haul them. Governor Walz hopes that by […]
Industry experts state that there’s an annual trend for trailer sales in that they usually bottom out in June. This year is no different as June 2022 is the weakest month for sales thus far, however, there is a silver lining to the news, according to ACT Research and FTR.June 2022 DetailsFreight Transportation Research pins […]
On July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the already fragile supply chain by delaying the shipment of goods for at least 60 days. To combat this, President Biden appointed a board of arbitrators, the Presidential Emergency Board, to help the dispute with contract building […]
In an effort to combat multiple problems plaguing the trucking industry (emissions, maintenance, etc.), Cummins is planning to bring to market fuel-agnostic engines.DetailsContrary to the name, the engines believe that fuel exists, and each engine will take a particular type of fuel, so a lazy driver cannot pour renewable natural gas into a diesel engine.What […]
Following the Supreme Court of the United States declining to hear the case regarding AB-5 and how it applies to the truckers of California, truckers in California have taken to the streets to voice their concerns via protesting.DetailsStarting July 13th and still going at the time of the writing of this article, approximately 100 truckers […]
The American Transport Research Institute interviewed 100 carriers and the young drivers of those carriers to understand what they were looking for in a trucking company. Given the current truck driver shortage recruiting younger drivers for your business is vital to sustaining your endeavors. Career Not a JobMany young drivers are looking for a field where […]
Another month, another update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As with previous months, the streak of job growth within the trucking industry continues, and the industry reaches a new all-time high.June 2022 NumbersThe initial posting for June 2022 is 1,589,500 jobs.The updated number for May 2022 is 1,585,200, which is a 3,900 increase […]
It appears as though COVID-19 is not the only State of Emergency that needed to be extended, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has updated its Declaration regarding the hauling of materials used in the production of baby formula.DetailsThe events started in February, when an Abbott plant in Michigan that produces baby formula shut […]
It seems as though it were just last year that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) had a Brake Safety Week. Likely, this year will be very much the same. With that in mind, we can look at last year’s results to infer what your truck might need looking at to avoid an out-of-service violation.Brake […]
It is fair to say that the used truck market has become a buyer’s market, as, according to J.D. Valuation Services, average prices across the board decreased double-digit points in June.June 2022 DetailsModel year 2021: $153,889. As this is the first month J.D. Valuation Services has tracked for model year 2021, there is no gain […]
Hazmat drivers traveling through Birmingham, Alabama will need to take a detour to avoid most of the city for the next handful of days, as ordered by the Alabama Department of Transportation under direction of the United States Secret Service.DetailsIn downtown Birmingham from July 7th to the 17th will be an event called the World […]
With the United States Supreme Court declining to hear CTA v. Becerra, the AB-5 law is expected to apply to truckers within California imminently. Aside from passing all three sections of the ABC test, there is another, lesser known exemption to the AB-5 rule that may allow California truckers to continue operating under the Authority […]
Another month, another update from DAT Freight and Analytics. In spite of everything going on in the world right now, freight rates have appeared to stabilize somewhat for the previous month.The NumbersAverage dry van rates were $2.69, a two cent decrease.Average flatbed rates were $3.44, a one cent decrease from before.Average reefer rates were $3.05, […]
Rear impact guards are an important component of truck safety, and while essentially all trailers have them, they are not all created equally. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a final rule to raise the minimum safety standards.DetailsThe published final rule is 107 pages long, but in a very abridged version, it increases […]
The Supreme Court has announced in an end-of-term orders list that it will not be reviewing CTA v. Becerra, making the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals verdict the official law of California.DetailsJudge Roger Benitez issued an injunction against the AB-5 law roughly two years ago, saying that the AB-5 law, when placed on the trucking […]
Rev up those engines, truckers! Montana needs our help in providing relief from flooding.DetailsOn June 10th, the National Weather Services announced a Flood Watch for Montana. The National Weather Services was right to issue that statement, as some counties in the Treasure State experienced four inches of rain in that single day. Acting Governor Kristen […]
As the national average for diesel fuel exceeds five dollars per gallon, President Joseph Robinette Biden Junior is calling on Congress to suspend the fuel tax for three months to help alleviate fuel prices. Details The federal fuel tax on diesel is about 24.4 cents per gallon. The money is used for the Highway Trust […]
We have talked about the potential suspension of the Federal Excise Tax (FET) before, but with the current administration, it may just become reality this time.FET DetailsThe FET was introduced in 1917 to help finance World War I. A decade later and it is still levying a 12% price increase on newer heavy-duty trucks and […]
Robin Hutcheson, the next person in line to become the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has had her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate. Here are the events that transpired.DetailsThere were a multitude of topics discussed during the confirmation hearing, but perhaps none as important as the purported “driver shortage” and the […]
DAT Freight and Analytics continues to report unprecedented times: flatbed hauling is the king of the road. With May 2022, the throne has only become higher. May 2022 Numbers Dry van hauling was $2.71, an eight cent decrease from April 2022. Flatbed increased by three cents going from $3.42 to $3.45. Reefer transportation decreased eight […]
The trucking industry continues its winning streak, with another month of all-time high employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has the numbers.May 2022 NumbersThe initial posting for May 2022 is 1,581,300.The revised count for April 2022 is 1,568,000. This is an increase of 3,900 jobs.March 2022’s final number is 1,554,000. From the last estimate, […]
In a move that Chris Spear of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has called “a long time coming”, the House of Representatives has passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. Now, it heads to Joe Biden’s desk for signature.Bill DetailsThe Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 hopes to stop what Chris Spear of the […]
Class 8 sales have decreased slightly in May 2022, according to Freight Transportation Research (FTR), but FTR’s vice president of commercial vehicles Don Ake says he is not concerned about the slight lull in sales. Here are the numbers, and the reasoning.May 2022 Numbers and DetailsFTR pins the number of big rig sales in May […]
In recent times the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made changes to commercial driver qualification filing rules. While each individual change did not justify an article on its own, combined they add up into something larger. Here are the changes that have been made in 2022 thus far.Road Test Certificate InformationAs of March […]
The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) is suing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding a regulation that is due to go into effect in January 2024.DetailsOn December 22nd, 2021, CARB established the Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus Regulation, which places higher emission status on heavy-duty trucks sold in California. It was set to […]
It has been over a year since the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of California’s AB-5 law. The California Trucking Association had appealed to the United Supreme Court, and the injunction has stayed in place ever since. Could the Supreme Court hold a hearing regarding the case before its current Term ends?DetailsThere are four […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is notable for having special periods of time across the year to enforce safety in commercial big rigs. One such example is checking truck maintenance with the International Roadcheck, which passed last month. Another that they do focuses on the most dangerous component of them all, the driver behind […]
If you have been following the news at all, there is a good chance you have heard about the baby formula shortage going on in the United States. On May 18th, Joe Biden announced his plan to use the Defense Production Act to leverage governmental powers to get more baby formula produced. One such example […]
When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced changes to the COVID-19 State of Emergency within less than a month of its expiration, it raised the notion that it would be extended again. Now, we know for sure that it has.DetailsThis extension is brought to you by Robin Hutcheson, current Deputy Administrator of the […]
2022 has been an interesting time for trucking industry assets, as high demand but low supply has everyone scrambling to get their hands on what they can get. ACT Research has the sales numbers for April 2022 net trailer orders.April 2022 NumbersACT Research estimates the sales of trailer orders to be 19,614. While this is […]
Trucking orders lulled for the month, as manufacturers continue to keep a tight backlog and prevent new orders from being added due to demand outpacing supply. ACT Research and FTR have the numbers!April 2022 NumbersACT Research pegs the sales at 15,800; FTR, 15,400. The two organizations, as usual, are very close with their approximations.These sales […]
April was a great month for those in the market to buy a used big rig to increase their fleet, as, for the most part, the auction market eased up during that month. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers.April 2022 Auction AveragesModel year 2020: $153,580; a $5,920 (3.7%) decrease from March.2019: $112,785; $4,962 (4.2%) decrease.2018: […]
What better time to celebrate one of America’s greatest jobs than during the month of America’s birthday?The World’s Largest Truckstop is known by truckers nationwide for its numerous services and amenities it provides to drivers year round, but almost every year they also put on one of the largest trucking conventions in the world. This […]
North Dakota is having issues with extremely cold weather within its borders. As a result, Governor Doug Burgum has declared a State of Emergency to help save North Dakota’s agricultural industry.DetailsThe Declaration is not unlike a similar one performed by Florida three months ago to save its agricultural commodities, except whereas Florida grows citrus fruits, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency exemptions numerous times, but this specific instance of touching it is a unique one. While the Declaration is being modified to include new items to be hauled under it, it is not being extended, for the time being.DetailsOn May 13th, Robin […]
We said that this day may come last month, but we are still shocked that it has arrived. Flatbed hauling has now taken the crown from reefer hauling in regards to rate prices, perhaps for the first time in trucking history! With flatbed rates up, and truck and trailer prices finally coming down, maybe it’s […]
Speed limiters are a touchy subject amongst drivers within the United States, but that is not going to stop federal regulators from making them required.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently announced that it plans to publish a supplemental notice to a 2016 proposed rule requiring speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks.DetailsThe idea of […]
Another month, another round of statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Unfortunately, with all the news going on in the trucking industry, we accidentally skipped March 2022’s job count update. This article will cover both months.March 2022 NumbersHere is a brief summary of what happened in March’s update:March 2022 data says 1,550,800 jobs.Comparing […]
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) is changing gears, pun intended. They are changing the name of their annual convention from the Truck Product Conference to the Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit, and it will be taking place September 13-14th, 2022 in Sandusky, Ohio.DetailsIn a time where global supply shortages are requiring fleets to get every […]
It should be no surprise to anyone that COVID-19 and the resulting uptick in pent-up demand, combined with the demand for better working conditions since the work from home movement began, has caused a global supply chain shortage. One such example of blockage is at intermodal points between boat, railroad, and truck. Norfolk Southern, a […]
Everyone’s favorite part of being a truck driver, and the main reason for getting into the business in the first place, is waiting for pickup and dropoff. Oftentimes, these wait times are unpaid, but the state of Pennsylvania is working to make these arduous hours a little more manageable by requiring restroom access. Say hello […]
Auction rates in the current global supply shortage are always interesting to check. With new trucks having a hard time staying on the lot, the industry turns to used vehicles to fulfill asset needs. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers. March 2022 Numbers For all years except the most recent listed, 2020, prices decreased. Model […]
