Winter Storm Fern and How it Impacts Trucking
A major storm named Fern is brewing, which is expected to cover the United States’ landmass housing over 220 million people. Here are the details you need to know.
Trucking News
California Abandons Advanced Clean Fleets Rule
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past two years, you have heard about the California Air Resource Board (CARB) and their strong plans to make the trucking industry greener. No new diesel trucks by 2036. Illegal to operate a diesel truck by 2042. Well, drivers in or traveling through the Golden State can now rest easier, as CARB has decided to abandon these plans.
Trucking Industry Sees Massive Holiday Season
Merry Christmas from all of us at TopMark Funding! It seems as though Santa has left a present under the tree for the industry as a whole, as the National Retail Federation reports expectations of a record-shattering holiday season of deliveries. Details According to the National Retail Federation, sales by dollar are expected to be […]
Rhode Island Wins Appeal on Truck Toll Case
Two years ago, we wrote about how Rhode Island planned to appeal the…
Regulatory Changes Under President Trump
Regulations are much harder to get off the books than they are to prevent from getting onto them in the first place. With Donald Trump a few months out from his second presidential term, here are some potential changes to upcoming regulations plaguing the trucking industry.
Trucking in the Second Era of Trump
Anyone who has been paying attention to our reporting of the news, especially in regard to regulations, likely noticed that we ended a good number of articles with “it will be interesting to see how the 2024 election plays out and if there is a change of party in the White House, how that will […]
INFRA Grants $30 Million to Bolster Trucking Infrastructure
The Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program (INFRA) from the United States Department of Transportation announced in late October 2024 that it was granting…
Truck Manufacturers Optimistic for 2025
What do PACCAR Inc. and Volvo Group have in common? Besides making trucks, they both have a bright outlook for the trucking industry. Details In separate third-quarter earnings calls, both PACCAR and Volvo have said that the demand in the trucking industry for 2024 was dominated by vocational trucks, but that 2025 will be a […]
WYDOT Warns of Slow Superloads
From far away when driving past them, those wind turbines used to generate power seem pretty small, but if you were to ever get close to them, you would see that they are massive and generate a lot of power even when moving slowly due to their sheer size. They are so big, in fact, […]
Texas Bans Oversized Loads for Solar Eclipse
When there is a total solar eclipse, traffic as a result of people traveling to see it increases, as was shown during the 2017 total solar eclipse where states in the path of totality saw an increase of traffic by 222%. To that extent, Texas is taking a proactive measure to minimize the chance of […]
West Coast Container Imports Boom
The Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program has confirmed that there has been an influx of imports headed to the West Coast, which makes for some interesting news for truckers operating from the ports near the Pacific Ocean.CauseThe reason for this increased rate of West Coast arrivals is two-fold. One is an increase of extremist […]
Mack Strike Ends
There were a lot of strikes in the news these past few months, so we kept our eyes on this story while it unfolded but refrained from writing about it until it resolved. Well, here we are, the United Auto Workers (UAW) has reached a bargaining agreement with Mack Trucks.DetailsAfter a thirty-nine day strike, the […]
Texas Ramps Up Border Inspections Yet Again
Texas Governor Greg Abbott strikes again, as “Operation Lone Star” picks up and results in another round of increased scrutiny for trucks entering the nation via El Paso.DetailsThis is the third time in recent history that the state of Texas has ramped up border security. The main reason is the same as the last two […]
Department of Transportation Announces Truck Parking Grants
If you have been a part of the trucking industry for any length of time, you are no doubt aware about the parking problem: the dearth of legal parking spots for commercial vehicles that cause truckers to spend over an hour finding a spot, or worse, parking in illegal and unsafe locations. Congress has introduced […]
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Starts September 10th
Every year, the millions of truckers across the United States haul over 5 trillion ton-miles of freight, making sure that people can get the goods they need to improve their quality of life whether that is an air conditioning unit in the summer or kerosene fuel for the winter. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) knows […]
New I-80 Truck Parking Opens September 20th
I-80, spanning from one side of the country to the other, is no doubt one of the most traveled roads for commercial vehicles, so it stands to reason that along I-80 is a fantastic place to put more truck parking spaces. That is what the folks over at the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) deduced, […]
Yellow Shutdown: What Happens Next?
So, it happened. Yellow, just a few months shy of being a century old, has gone out of business. The question that remains is what happens to the LTL market? The answer: it will go on as it always has.DetailsThere is a saying that a rising tide lifts all boats, but the same is true […]
IRS Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Due August 31st
The IRS considers the fiscal year for the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) to start July 1st, the halfway point of the year. The taxman wants to remind fleets that it is time to pay the piper for trucks that will be used in full this year. We hope this guide makes the experience of […]
Autonomous Truck Stop Opens in Georgia
Are you ready for the future? It is still numerous decades away, but that is not stopping Kodiak Robotics from forming a partnership with the Pilot Company to create a station that will support autonomous vehicles.DetailsThe new station is located on a standard truck stop in Villa Rica, Georgia. The planned uses for it include […]
Freight Rates for April, May, June, and July 2023
Time really does fly when there is a lot to report about in the trucking industry. First, we let details about truck sales for the month fall by the wayside, and now it turns out we have been skimping out on reporting freight rates! Here are the numbers for the last four months for all […]
Trucking Workforce Improvement Act May Increase Employment
It is not a surprise to anyone that truckers are slowly but surely becoming older on average: we often cite the statistic that every year, the average age goes up by about a month. This is in part due to how much regulation goes into preventing new drivers from entering the workforce, creating a barrier […]
Trucking Jobs Experience Slight Downtick in July 2023
We here at TopMark Funding love to report on the news when it is especially positive, but we do not get the privilege of picking and choosing when the news is good versus bad. There is no sugarcoating it: the number of trucking jobs experienced a slight decline in July. The Bureau of Labor Statistics […]
Truck Sales for April, May, and June 2023 Remain Steady
Remember when we used to provide you with updates regarding the number of truck orders for each month? There are two reasons why we have been lingering in reporting this for the past quarter. The first is that there may be a difference between the preliminary numbers and the final numbers reported for the month, […]
44th Walcott Truckers Jamboree Starts July 13th
The Iowa 80 Truckstop prides itself as being “The World’s Largest Truckstop”, but it is also home to the largest trucking event of the year. This year the folks over in Walcott, Iowa are planning to maintain that record by aiming higher than ever before.DetailsThe previous year’s Walcott Truckers Jamboree had 45,000 attendees, and the […]
I-95 Bridge Collapses
This is a sad story that we hate to report on, but it is also a necessary one to highlight the importance of infrastructure investment.A bridge for one of the largest, most commonly used interstates in the nation has collapsed, causing massive detours for people hoping to travel along the east coast.DetailsOn Sunday, June 11th, […]
FMCSA Wants to End COVID-19 CDL Waiver
The primary State of Emergency exemption from the COVID-19 pandemic, the one regarding waiving hours-of-service requirements within reason, has long since passed, but its smaller brother, a waiver that enables some third-party CDL skill tests examiners to also conduct CDL knowledge tests, is still ongoing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to stop […]
Used Truck Auction Rates from January 2023 to April 2023
It has been a while since we have brought you an update regarding the average auction prices on used Class 8 trucks, so we thought we would give you a lightning round of what has happened in the first four months of the year, thanks to the fine folks at J.D. Valuation Services.January 2023 NumbersModel […]
CTA and OOIDA Prepare New Battle Against AB-5
AB-5, a law regarding the classification of workers depending on a variety of standards, may be the law of the land in the most populous state, California, but that is not stopping the trucking industry from challenging it from applying to the industry. Now, the California Trucking Association (CTA) and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) […]
Mexico Pleads with Texas to Stop Inspections
Nothing like a little bit of international drama.The country of Mexico is flabbergasted at the actions of the state of Texas, which recently announced increased scrutiny regarding inspections of trucks entering the state from Mexico. This is not the first time that this has happened, with it happening in April 2022 and ending with an […]
Texas Border to Examine Every Truck
History does not repeat, but it very often rhymes.You may remember a little over a year ago how the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT) inspected every single truck that entered into the United States from Mexico. With Title 42 now at an end, TDOT is ramping up its inspections yet again.DetailsThe Trump-era Title 42 was […]
Trucker Path Determines Worst Region for Truck Parking
When a private application on a smartphone takes your private data, sometimes it is not to sell you more products through advertisements. Sometimes, the data can be used to discover valuable information to solve problems. This is what the developers behind Trucker Path, a company designed around solving problems for the trucking industry, have decided […]
Truck Stops Offering Deals on Inspections
With the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) upcoming International Roadcheck, some travel stations that also offer maintenance are hoping to cash in on the event by offering their repair services to fleets and truckers.Love’s Travel StopsAs of the time of publishing, Love’s Truck Care is offering a free TirePass service (tire inflation and inspection) with […]
California Considers Driverless Truck Ban
The most populated state in the nation, California always seems to be in the news when it comes to the trucking industry. Usually it involves regulations that make trucking harder, but depending on how you look at this one, it could easily be seen as something beneficial to drivers.DetailsCalifornia’s legislative system works similarly to the […]
NHTSA Study Shows Safest and Most Dangerous States for Truckers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has tracked 4,842 lethal truck crashes in 2022. A trucking services company called Simplex Group has compared the numbers of large truck crashes in each state to the total number of traffic incidents that resulted in at least one casualty to find which state is the safest for […]
Freight Rates Decrease Slightly for March 2023
They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and with the trucking industry, that seems to be the rule as well, as freight rates continue to decline, they are also showing signs of stabilization. DAT Freight & Analytics has the numbers.March 2023 NumbersNational dry van averages dropped from […]
Trucking Jobs Rebound for March 2023
In our haste to provide reporting on other aspects of the trucking industry, we had skipped over the February 2023 numbers when they first came out. This is of minimal consequence, because if the numbers from March are accurate, it appears as though February’s drop never happened. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has the […]
Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act Reaches House
In December, we wrote about how the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act was gaining momentum within the United States Senate, but also mentioned that it was only the first step to actually getting any legislation done, as it would need to go through the House of Representatives as well. That is happening now.DetailsThe Truck Parking […]
Joe Biden Visits Cummins Plant
Joe Biden visited the Cummins plant in Fridley, Minnesota on April 3rd for two reasons: one was political, with Biden traveling on his Investing in America tour to show citizens that he supports goods that are made in America, and the other is celebration, as Cummins has pledged to invest $1 billion across its numerous […]
Northern Texas to Implement Freight Priority Program
It is basic physics that it takes more fuel to accelerate an 80,000 truck than a sedan. With this logic in mind, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is hoping to use technology to make the streets of the Dallas-Fort Worth area more accessible to truckers by making it easier for them to […]
Clean Freight Coalition Founded
It is no surprise to anyone that federal regulations are becoming stricter and stricter in regards to emissions from the transportation industry, especially regarding Class 8 trucks. While nobody is against cleaner air, some trucking industry stakeholders believe a more modest approach to the problem is the key to balancing economic and environmental interests. Out […]
Knight-Swift to Purchase U.S. Xpress
In what might be the largest business deal in the trucking industry that we will see this decade, Knight-Swift, one of the largest fleets in the nation, has decided to purchase U.S. Xpress, a smaller but still significantly large truck fleet, to the tune of $800 million.Acquisition DetailsKnight-Swift is acquiring the smaller company in the […]
Class 8 Sales Remain Modest for January and February 2023
When you consider that January and February tend to be the slowest months of the year for the trucking industry, the fact that the numbers did not change too much from the year prior is a good sign. FTR and ACT Research have the numbers.January 2023 NumbersFTR reports the January 2023 orders for big rigs […]
AVIA Outlines Regulatory Recommendations
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), knowing that the federal government is going to regulate them eventually, has taken a proactive approach to its problem by outlining suggestions on what it thinks the government can do to help autonomous technology flourish while keeping people safe.DetailsYou can read the entire 12 page document at the relevant […]
Trailer Sales Drop for Slow Season in January 2023
Life has some universal truths. We will all die one day, the sun is very hot, and the month after the holidays tends to cause a lull in the trucking industry. In regards to trailer orders, 2023’s first month of the year was not an exception to the rule. ACT Research has the numbers!January 2023 […]
Iowa Simplifies Permits for Emergencies
On February 15th, Governor Kim Reynolds signed into law a new statute that Iowa lawmakers hope will cut through time-consuming regulations easier in the case of an emergency and will benefit truckers working to provide substantial relief through oversized loads.DetailsThe process for getting an overweight permit in Iowa is usually arduous, but Iowa wants to […]
Startup is AirBNB for Truck Parking
Easily one of the greatest issues tackling the trucking industry today is the lack of available, safe truck parking. We once postulated that perhaps businesses with extra parking space could sell it, and one startup company, the Truck Parking Club, is hoping to pair weary drivers with companies hoping to make a few extra dollars […]
National Weather Service Expects Crazy Week in Midwest
Winter this year is going to end not with a whimper, but with a bang, as the National Weather Service (NWS) expects this week to have tumultuous weather conditions in the midwest. Truckers beware! Details The NWS is predicting that for the rest of the week the northern midwest, including states such as Iowa and […]
FMCSA Proposes Changes to SMS System
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been in the news quite a bit lately, and this article is no different. Here is a taste of what the FMCSA is planning on changing to its Safety Measurement Systems (SMS).Relearning the BASICsSome modeling that the FMCSA uses to determine high-risk drivers is the Behavior Analysis and […]
ATA TMC’s 2023 TTE Starts February 27th
We know that the title has plenty of acronyms, so allow us to elaborate. The American Trucking Association (ATA) has a Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) which will be hosting its annual meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition (TTE) on February 27th.Transportation Technology Exhibition DetailsThe event will run for four days at the Orange County Convention […]
FMCSA Revoking ELDs Shows Flaws in Current System
In the last two weeks the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revoked three Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) of their certification status. Drivers who had one of these three types of ELDs are required to use paper logs until they can obtain a suitable replacement. This situation highlights a serious issue in the ELD […]
Labor Unions Advocate in California Against Autonomous Vehicles
Autonomous trucks are still numerous decades away from fully replacing the human driver, but that has not stopped labor unions representing truckers in California from petitioning the state Legislature to put in regulations that protect California’s truckers from becoming displaced by the technology.Autonomous AutomobileCalifornia already has set rules in place regarding self-driving vehicles that weigh […]
Freight Rates See Predictable Dip in January 2023
A new year, a new slow season! As to be expected when the holiday season ends, demand for deliveries across hundreds of miles have started to decline. Add in the lower amount of agriculture harvested within the United States, and the supply and demand equation is sure to shift. DAT Freight & Analytics has the […]
Trucking Jobs Stay Well Above Milestone in January 2023
Conventional wisdom would dictate that once the slow season begins after the holidays, the number of trucking jobs would decrease. After all, all of the presents have been shipped, so demand is lower than it would be in December. In reality, this is seldom the case, and 2023 is not an exception to the rule, […]
Court Rules Over Intermodal Chassis Choice Case
Since August 2020, there has been an ongoing lawsuit between the American Trucking Associations’ Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference (IMCC) and numerous ocean carrier equipment organizations over the required use of specified intermodal chassises rather than truckers any chassis that fits specifications. Recently, a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) administrative law judge ruled that this practice was […]
ATRI Releases Busiest Bottlenecks of 2023
The American Research Transportation Institute (ATRI) releases some interesting data tidbits that the average trucker can use to better plan his or her routes. The simplest answer? Stay away from Houston!MethodologyThe ATRI lists its methodology of how it got its numbers. Here is the gist of it:Assume the optimal speed for a truck at each […]
FMCSA Asks for Public Opinion on Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous trucks are no doubt still far into the future, but that has not stopped the Federal Motor Safety Administration (FMCSA) from preparing to regulate them. They have announced a Supplemental Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SANPRM) where they request public feedback on how self-driving trucks should be regulated as they become more common.DetailsThe SANPRM […]
Missouri Awards Almost $6 Million in CDL Grants
Missouri is spending money into workforce education. Out of $30 million in total to be given to 19 organizations across the state, four truck driving schools are receiving $5.9 million in grants.DetailsThe money is granted by way of the American Rescue Plan Act Workforce Training Grant, which Governor Mike Parson says, “From day one, our […]
Auction Rates Decrease on Used Trucks in December 2022
J.D. Valuation Services is happy to report that the data they have collected show used Class 8 trucks are continuing their market correction from the highs earlier in the year and in 2021.December 2022 NumbersUsually one or two model years will go against the general trend as with what happened in November 2022, but the […]
Trailer Sales for both November and December 2022 Beat Prior Year
Can we interest you in a double feature? The trucking industry has lately been firing on all cylinders, and trailer sales have not been an exception to the rule. Unlike the rest of the trucking industry, December saw an acceleration of trailer sales. ACT Research has the numbers.November and December 2022 Trailer SalesAccording to ACT […]
New Bill Would Allow Drivers Under 21 to Move Drayage
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 […]
Analysts Predict Truck Part Prices to Rise Slower
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Increase in December 2022
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 […]
BTS Releases 2020 Transportation Statistics Annual Report
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 […]
Study Shows, Truckers Need Better Parking Visibility
What’s New? Research conducted along an East Coast freight corridor found that truckers are missing out on open parking spaces due to a lack of visibility of what’s available, and drivers’ perception, based on trucks already parked along the side of the highway, that all spots are taken. “The most influential factor — or the […]
Class 8 Orders Weaker but Still Strong in December 2022
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 […]
Freight Rates Normalize for December 2022
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 […]
New Bill Gives Truckers Access to Restrooms
What’s New? The Trucker Bathroom Accessibility Act was introduced by U.S. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Chrissy Houlahan (D. Pa.). If passed, the bill would require businesses with a restroom for either employees or customers to be open to delivery or pick-up drivers. The bill does not require businesses without a restroom to construct one, […]
Michigan to Increase Gas Tax in 2023
What’s New? Starting Jan. 1, Michigan will increase its gas tax by 1.4 cents thanks to an automatic adjustment written into state law. According to Michigan legislation, and an automatic adjustment in the state law, Michigan state tax will increase from 27.2 cents per gallon to 28.6 cents per gallon. A law from when Gov. […]
Auction Prices Have Slight Rise in November 2022
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; […]
FMCSA Grants Exemption for Heating Oil in 46 States
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 […]
Cyber Monday 2022 Biggest Day for Online American Shopping Ever
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 […]
Class 8 Truck Sales Still Going Strong as of November 2022
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 […]
Rail Strike Officially Averted
What’s New? On Dec. 2 President Joe Biden signed a bill to end the long-standing labor agreement between a freight rail station and its union workers. “The bill I’m about to sign ends a difficult rail dispute and helps our nation avoid what without a doubt would have been an economic catastrophe at a very […]
Truck Parking Bill Introduced in Senate
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 […]
Tesla Delivers its First Semis to PepsiCo
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Once Again Break Records in November 2022
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 […]
Freight Rates Take Minor Hit November 2022
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 […]
Gasoline Fluctuates, but Diesel Remains Expensive
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 […]
Cargo Volumes at West Coast Ports Diminish
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 […]
House Voted To Avoid Rail Strike
What’s New? The United States House of Representatives voted on Nov. 30 to pass a bill that would force the railroad and the unions to abide by the terms outlined in the September tentative agreement. The measure passed by a vote of 290-137 and now heads to the Senate. If approved, it will be quickly […]
Pending Strike Becomes Imminent
What’s New? A strike could occur as early as Dec. 9 now that freight carriers union SMART-TD has rejected the tentative agreement negotiated in mid-September by Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and other officials. The Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers union and their 500+ Transportation Division members made the announcement on Nov. 21. Another […]
Tesla Co-Founder Wants in on Electric Truck Battery Market
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 […]
Trailer Orders Increase Drastically in October 2022
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 […]
Second-Highest Truck Orders for the Year in October 2022
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 […]
Rhode Island Appeals Truck Toll Case
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 […]
Neighboring States Enact State of Emergencies Regarding Fuel
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 […]
The Diesel Fuel Shortage Explained
We are about a month away from total havoc. We were also a month away from no more diesel fuel about a month ago, and the month before, and the month before. This is simply how the lead-time for diesel fuel works. Allow us to explain. Production Vs. Consumption In general, fuels of all types […]
One Rail Union Accepts Railroad Terms
What’s New? On Saturday, November 5, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union members approved the terms of the deal presented by the railroad. If you’ll recall, 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 […]
Trucking Jobs Rebound in October 2022
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 […]
Freight Rates Take Miniscule Decline In October 2022
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 […]
ATA Urges States to Apply for More Federal Grants
What’s New? The American Trucking Associations Law Enforcement Advisory Board, which consists of 37 retired and active law enforcement professionals with over 900 combined years of experience, sent letters to the governor’s office and the state department of transportation of all 50 states. The letters urged the states to apply for additional federal funding to […]
90 Year Old Minnesota Road Gets $10 Million Makeover
What’s New? US Route 212 was awarded $10 million on Sept. 15 from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America federal funding account. Route 212 is a major corridor that connects Southwest Minnesota and Twin Cities. The corridor spans 161 miles in Minnesota and connects 22,000 square miles of Minnesota and South Dakota. The funds will be […]
White House Announces $60 Billion Transportation Plan
What’s New? On October 11, the Biden Administration announced that $60 billion (yes, billion with a “B”) of federal funding would be used to repair transportation corridors nationwide. “America’s roads and bridges are the vital arteries of our transportation system, connecting people and goods across the country,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. On Oct. 13 […]
Trailer Orders Increase in September 2022
Global supply chain shortages, ravaging the trucking industry for the better half of a year, may finally be coming to an end, as both ACT Research and FTR report numbers that are higher than they were in August.September 2022 NumbersACT Research pins the number at 25,700, while FTR has revised its preliminary numbers from 12,500 […]
Auction Rates Slightly Lower on Average in September 2022
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 […]
Rail Unions Reject Tentative Deal, Reinstating Strike Risk
Background On July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the 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 […]
Biden to Release More from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
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 […]
FMCSA Ends COVID-19 State of Emergency Waiver
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, […]
CVSA Hazmat Blitz 2022
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 […]
Biden Speaks at Volvo Plant
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 […]
Texas Announces 10 Year, $85 Billion Plan
What’s new? Texas Department of Transportation has announced its plan to spend $85 billion on roadways, focusing on congestion, enhanced transportation safety, and improved highways over the next 10 years. The governor gave the stamp of approval on Aug. 30. The 188-page document outlines the planning and development for the Unified Transportation Program, which also […]
Freight Rates Take Slight Decline in September 2022
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.
Earth-Shattering Class 8 Sales in September 2022
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 […]
Trucking Tonnage at Highest Point Since COVID-19 Started
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 […]
Eight States’ Hours-of-Service Waived in Response to Hurricane Ian
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 […]
Florida has State of Emergency Regarding Tropical Depression
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 […]
Rhode Island Truck Tolls Defeated in Court
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 […]
Florida to Provide Funding to Trucking Schools
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 […]
USDOT Awards $1.5 Billion in Federal Infrastructure Grants
What’s New? On Thursday, Sept. 15 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $1.5 billion for highway, multimodal freight, and rail projects that will make the nation’s transportation and infrastructure systems safer and more resilient. “Today we are announcing transformative investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and rail […]
$34.6 Billion For Highway Improvements in Illinois
What’s New? Illinois Department of Transportation’s Data-Driven Decisions Tool has selected 13 projects for state investment improvements. The tool was used to determine which projects would benefit the most under the state’s Multi-Year Program (fiscal years 2023 to 2028). The analytics tool was used to assess current infrastructure projects adding highway capacity to a 6-year […]
CVSA Posts International Roadcheck 2022 Results
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 […]
FMCSA to Revise ELD Mandate
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 […]
Truck Safety Coalition Lists Deadliest States for Trucking
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 […]
FMCSA to Research Truckers Using Autonomous Technology
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 […]
Auction Rates Vary in August 2022
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 […]
FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Waivers Another Three Months
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 […]
Biden-Harris Administration Founds WOTAB
“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 […]
American Transportation Research Institute Wants Your Opinion
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 […]
Trailer Sales: June 2022 Update and July 2022
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 […]
Rail Strike Averted
What’s New? Early on Sept. 15, it was announced that the six Class I railroads and union workers reached a tentative deal with the management council for the rail carriers. The tentative deal prevented about 115,000 conductors, engineers, and other employees from staging a walkout. In a statement by President Biden, he said this deal […]
Diesel Drops 5.1¢
What’s New? According to the Energy Information Administration, data report released on Sept. 12, diesel fuel dropped 5.1 cents to $5.033 a gallon. The price of diesel fuel jumped on Aug. 29 to $5.115 after being below $5 for nine weeks. Diesel Gas September Predictions According to EIA, based on their Short-Term Energy Outlook Sept. […]
DOT Gives States $513.2 Million For Infrastructure
What’s New? The Department of Transportation is giving $513.2 million to 30 states as part of their Emergency Relief Program. The goal of the program is to provide relief to communities after extreme weather and wildfires. “From recent hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast, to wildfires in California and floods and mudslides in numerous states, […]
Truck Sales Double in August 2022
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 […]
Railroad Strikes May Exacerbate Truck Capacity, ATA Exclaims
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Increase a Notch for August 2022
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 […]
West Coast Suffers Drought; Rest, Floods
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 […]
FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Emergency Another 45 Days
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 […]
Three of the 12 Rail Unions Announce Terms
Background On July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the 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 […]
Delaware Bill Could Increase Truck Parking Fines
House Bill 479 aims to increase fines for truck drivers who park in residential parking, increasing fines up to $2,000. Currently, the bill is waiting on action from Delaware Gov. John Carney after it went through the General Assembly unopposed. “Staff from the governor’s office usually reach out to the chief clerk of the House […]
Freight Rates Let Off Steam in August 2022
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 […]
Gas Prices Fall for 70 Days
What’s New? Aug. 30 – Gas prices have fallen for 70 days consecutively. This is the second longest decline in gas prices since January 2015, falling for 117 days. According to AAA, gas prices are averaging about $3.892 per gallon after reaching a record high of $5.016 per gallon in June. Diesel Gas 2023 Predictions […]
NYC Mayor Cracks Down on Truck Parking
Any trucker who has been on the road for longer than a week knows that it is hard to find dedicated parking to put the truck for a night. Oftentimes a trucker will have to make due with covering multiple spots intended for four-wheelers or a long stretch of curb in residential areas. New York […]
Section 179 Deduction 2022
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 […]
Truck Sales Rise in June 2022, Fall in July 2022
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 […]
Used Trucks Became Cheaper in July 2022
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 […]
California-Tesla Lawsuit Sets Autonomous Trucking Back Slightly
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 […]
Truck Driver Pay Increased Drastically
What’s new? An American Trucking Association study released on August 10, states that truck driver wages increased by 18% compared to 2019 average wages. Median compensation in 2021 stood at $69,687. This does not include benefits, but it does include bonuses. “In the truckload space, compensation was up 18% from 2019,” ATA Chief Economist Bob […]
Gasoline Prices Continue to Decline
As of Aug. 15, the average cost of gasoline has dropped 45 cents over the past three weeks, standing at an average of $4.10 per gallon. Over the past nine weeks, we have seen an 81-cent drop, which is still $1 more than this time last year. San Francisco had the highest recorded gas prices […]
Freight Rates Step Down for July 2022
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 […]
Prisons Expand CDL Training for Women
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is expanding its commercial driver’s license program to focus on incarcerated women. “CDL training is a career field which is in high demand throughout the U.S.,” said Donald Murphy, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Information, Policy and Public Affairs Division, in an interview with Transport Topics. “Inmates […]
Tesla CEO Tweets 2022 Release for Semi
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 […]
Senate Debates Freight-Centered Bill
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a scaled-back version of President Biden’s Build Back Better climate change proposal. The Inflation Reduction Act aims to combat severe weather events for infrastructure projects and promote greener sources of energy for transportation networks. The total bill comes to a grand $740 billion and while the bill details […]
FMCSA to Give $44 Million to State CDL Programs
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Increase Yet Again in July 2022
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 […]
California Has Wildfire State of Emergency
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 […]
Diesel and Gas Prices Continue to Drop Nationwide
The Energy Information Administration report on July 25 shows diesel and gasoline prices decline for the fifth week in a row. Diesel prices hit a record high of $5.810 on June 20. Since then prices have declined by 54.2 cents. All 10 of the places EIA spoke with have reported a fall in diesel prices […]
Kentucky & West Virginia Issue Emergencies for Torrential Flooding
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 […]
Diesel Fuel Prices Drop for the Sixth Week in a Row
The Energy Information Administration report on August 1 shows diesel and gasoline fuel prices decline for the sixth week in a row. Diesel prices hit a record high of $5.810 on June 20. Since then prices have declined by 67.2 cents. All 10 of the places EIA spoke with have reported a fall in diesel […]
Ports of California Resumes Normal Operation
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 […]
Two Largest States Enact State of Emergencies for Wildfires
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 […]
FMCSA Accepting Carriers for Apprentice Program
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 […]
Trailer Orders Dip Modestly for June 2022
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 […]
AB5 Protest Moves to Oakland
On July 18, protesters blocked the Port of Oakland, as a response to Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), resulting in a 95% decline in operations. Owner-operated truck drivers make up 90% of the Bay Area port operations, but that quickly came to a halt when protesters blocked trucks from getting into the port. The original protest […]
I-81 Corridor Coalition Asks for Federal Funding for Truck Parking
The Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition wants to form a multistate team in order to apply for federal funds to improve truck parking along the interstate highway. Who is the I81CC? The I81CC was originally formed in 2011 to improve driving conditions for freight and passenger transportation along the corridor. This decision came after a roundtable […]
New ATA Program Focuses on Women in Trucking
The American trucking Association introduced a new program that aims to focus on uplifting and acknowledging the contributions of female truck drivers. “The trucking industry relies on women – whether in the boardroom, as a technician, or behind the wheel – and we believe that by highlighting the many contributions the women already in trucking […]
President Biden Blocks Freight Rail Strike
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 […]
House Committee Approves Truck Parking Bill
On July 20, the House Transportation and Infrastructure approved a bill to increase parking for commercial motor vehicles. The bill aims to “provide parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle operators.” Sponsored by Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act would build and expand safe parking areas […]
Cummins to Manufacture Fuel-Agnostic Engines
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 […]
California Truckers Protest AB-5
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Lurch Forward for June 2022
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 […]
FMCSA Extends Baby Formula Shortage Declaration
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 […]
CVSA Brake Safety Week Starts August 21st
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 […]
Used Truck Auction Prices Tumble in June 2022
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 Restrictions in Birmingham Until July 17th
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 […]
Freight Rates Decrease a Sliver in June 2022
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, […]
NHTSA Updates Rear Guard Standards
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 […]
Supreme Court Declines to Hear AB-5 Case
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 […]
Montana Declares State of Emergency Due to Flooding
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 […]
Biden Calls on Congress to Suspend Fuel Tax
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 […]
FET Suspension Bill Introduced in House
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 Has Confirmation Hearing
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 […]
Flatbed Reigns Supreme for May 2022
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Leap in May 2022
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, […]
Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 Passes Congress
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 […]
Truck Orders Decrease without Worry in May 2022
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 […]
FMCSA Updates Driver Qualification File Rules
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 […]
CARB Regulation Goes to Court
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 […]
Will the Supreme Court Hear the AB-5 Case?
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 […]
Safe Driver Week 2022 Starts July 10th
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 […]
FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Waiver Another Three Months
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 […]
Trailer Sales Show Growing Pains for April 2022
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 […]
Truck Sales Have Small Dip for April 2022
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 […]
Trucking Auction Market Stabilizes in April 2022
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: […]
2022 Walcott Truckers Jamboree Begins July 14th
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 Issues State of Emergency for Cold Snap
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, […]
FMCSA Amends Coronavirus Emergency Declaration
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 […]
Unprecedented Freight Rate Trend Marks April 2022
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 […]
FMCSA Puts Speed Limiters Back on the Table
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 […]
Trucking Jobs Jump for April 2022
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 […]
NTEA Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit Starts September 13th
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 […]
Norfolk Southern’s Unique Way to Increase Efficiency
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 […]
Pennsylvania Introduces Truck Driver Restroom Access Act
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 Mostly Drop for March 2022
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 NumbersFor all years except the most recent listed, 2020, prices decreased.Model Year 2021: No […]
Trailer Sales Break Record in March 2022
If you have been following trucking industry news for the past year, you might be familiar with the term “global supply chain shortage.” Simply put, it has been plastered on articles across the internet, including our own. However, March 2022’s trailer sales have bucked this trend. FTR and ACT Research have the numbers.March 2022 NumbersACT […]
Truck Orders Follow Pattern in March 2022
ACT Research and FTR will often vary their estimates for truck sales by a difference of a few hundred each month, with the correct answer presumably somewhere in the middle. With recent events in the trucking industry, their jobs have become significantly easier. This is evident by the numbers the two organizations have found for […]
Texas Delegates Increased Border Security to Mexico
Approximately a week after Governor Greg Abbott initiated increased scrutiny inspections at the border between Texas and Mexico, he has reneged the order at the border. The inspections will still take place, just with a more efficient method than using state troopers placed at the border and forming a queue.DetailsGovernor Greg Abbott first lifted the […]
Biden Nominates Hutcheson for FMCSA Administrator
With Meera Joshi departing to work back in New York City, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is once again in need of someone to lead it. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttgieg had suggested one of his closest assistants, Robin Hutcheson, for the job. Now, Biden has officially nominated her for the position.DetailsBefore working […]
Increased Security at Border Causes Truck Traffic
It seems the global supply chain is always in the news these days. Whether it is a backlog of cargo carriers at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports, vaccination requirements at the US-Canadian border, or the latest development happening at the border of Texas and Mexico. Governor Greg Abbott has recently announced efforts to increase inspection […]
House of Representatives Introduces SSCTTDI Act
How is that for a name?It is no surprise to anyone that supply chain problems are causing shortages in the economy. The House of Representatives is hoping to help remedy this through the power of tax incentives, namely the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives (SSCTTDI) Act.DetailsWere SSCTTDI to be signed into law, it […]
California Air Resources Board to Prohibit Pre-2010 Engines in 2023
We have written at great length about how a better method to resolve air pollution would be to enact regulations that peter out older engines rather than forcing new engines to continuously provide breakthroughs in efficiency, and it seems that California may be doing just that. Details The California Air Resources Board (CARB) enacted a […]
Freight Rates Move Unexpectedly in March 2022
It is safe to say we live in unprecedented times. Coronavirus, supply chain shortages, the war over in the Ukraine, and oil shortages. With all of the inane things we have experienced since the start of the decade, hopefully the changes in freight rates will seem less crazy in comparison.March 2022 NumbersAccording to DAT:Dry van […]
Trailer Orders Exceed Production for February 2022
Unlike truck orders for the same period of time, trailer production still has room in the backlog for orders, and as such orders were higher than production in February. ACT Research and FTR have the numbers.February 2022 NumbersAct Research says that 26,500 trailers were ordered in February 2022, and FTR says that the backlog grew […]
Biden Announces Sale of Strategic Petroleum Reserve Oil
It should be no surprise to anyone at this point that gas and diesel prices are at historic highs, due in part to the Ukraine-Russian conflict and the resulting oil embargo. With people across the country struggling to pay the new prices, the Biden Administration has announced that it will be adding its own supply […]
C.W. McCall, Singer of Truck Anthem “Convoy”, Passes Away
April 1st is usually a time of good fun and pranks, but the trucking industry lost one of its greatest legends that day.William “Bill” Fries Jr., known in the trucking industry under his stage name C.W. McCall, has been reported as passing away in his Ouray, Colorado home at age 93 on the first day […]
DOT Raises Fines for Regulation Violations
A little inflation of around 2% is a good thing; such inflation encourages people to actually use their money rather than hide it under a mattress. Inflation rates above 9 percent, however, are a little more worrisome. The DOT’s recent final rule is a strong example of why.DetailsThe Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements […]
Truck Sales Follow Production Levels for February 2022
At this point it is the same old story: global supply chain shortages leading to trucks being produced at a rate that does not match demand. FTR and ACT Research have the numbers.February 2022 NumbersFTR pins the sales at 21,100; ACT Research, 21,000. This is perhaps the closest the two research organizations have been in […]
Texas Judge Reinstates Trump-Era Independent Contractor Status
The California AB-5 saga has not come to a close yet, as what the Supreme Court will do with it remains a mystery, but other challenges to the independent contractor/employee dynamic are still in motion. One such case is the Department of Labor redefining the term “independent contractor” shortly after the Biden Administration came into […]
Mid-America Trucking Show Starts March 24th
After canceling the event for two years in a row, the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is scheduled to have its 50th anniversary this year. With how close the event is to the time of writing and no news of it slowing down, it appears slated to go.DetailsThe website for MATS has the tagline “Worth the […]
Trucking Industry Gains Auxiliary Jobs in February 2022
When we report the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) job numbers, we usually do the sum of all jobs in the trucking industry. February was an interesting month that takes a lot more nuance, so prepare for an explanation of what the BLS has to report.February 2022 NumbersComparing apples to apples, the employment counts posted […]
Average Auction Rates Went Everywhere in February 2022
Which is a less stable used truck market, one where all of the model years travel in the same direction of double-digit percentage increases, or one where all of them travel in unpredictable directions independent of one another? We ask because that is what J.D. Valuation Services found in used truck auction rates at the […]
EPA Considers New Emission Standards for Big Rigs
On March 7th the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its latest proposal for heavy-duty truck and engine standards to reduce emissions. Details The proposal is the first step in the EPA’s “Clean Trucks Plan.” While the proposed standards are still subject to public scrutiny before becoming official regulation, we can use them to see the […]
FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Declaration to June 1st
At this point, it is a little difficult to keep track of how many times this emergency waiver has been extended. As the country almost enters its third year of two weeks to flatten the curve, the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration is not backing down from fighting the virus, directly and indirectly.DetailsThe new extension […]
Freight Rates Go Every Which Way for February 2022
With another month behind us in this global supply chain shortage, it is time to see where freight prices per mile line up. DAT Freight & Analytics has the numbers!February 2022 RatesThe average national rates for each form of hauling was as follows:Dry van was $3.10 per mile, the same as it was in January.Flatbed […]
DOT Considers Saliva Samples for Drug Testing
It should be of no surprise that urine sample testing for drugs is not very popular. With that in mind, the Department of Transportation has been delving into other potential substitutes for urine drug testing. One that has shown a lot of promise is hair testing, but another that may become more common is testing […]
Ukraine War May Increase Diesel Prices
It is no surprise to anyone that crude oil prices and, by extension, those of its refined products are reaching record levels. A new world event may just be another cog in the machine of rising diesel prices, that being the Russian invasion into Ukraine.DetailsCountries across the globe, including the United States, are waging economic […]
International Roadcheck 2022 Starts May 17th
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck is set to happen again this year. It is a 72-hour marathon of inspections for commercial trucks and trailers in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Here is what this year will entail.DetailsThe theme for this year’s International Roadcheck is wheel ends. While this includes brakes, which were […]
USA Freedom Convoy Slated to Start February 25th
The Canadian Freedom Convoy and Blockade may be de facto over, but the movement has spread to other countries. One of these countries is right here, the United States. There were talks about when such an event would start, and it appears to now have a set date of February 25th.DetailsThe plan, as told by […]
Truck Sales Stagnate in January 2022
What had happened to the trailer market in January 2022 also happened to the new Class 8 market. With no new trucks in reserves, they are rolling off the production lot and going straight to work. FTR’s and ACT Research’s numbers are below. January 2022 Numbers The twin research organizations are very close in their […]
Florida Issues State of Emergency in Regards to Cold Snap
From January 28th to the 30th, Florida experienced exceptionally cold temperatures across the state. This has compelled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to declare a State of Emergency. Unlike the cold snaps in Texas for the past two years, the objective with this waiver is to not save lives, but to save the agricultural industry and […]
Trailer Sales Match Previous Month for January 2022
It is no secret that trucking companies are snapping up trailers as fast as they can be created. As such, an anomaly in the industry has happened where sales have reached an equilibrium point. FTR has the numbers.January 2022 Sales NumbersFreight Transportation Research has the estimated number of trailer sales for January pinned at around […]
Auction Prices End Year on Mixed Note for December 2021
J.D. Valuation Services has released the average auction prices for December 2021. The numbers, while on average lower than the month prior, show just how far trucking has come in the last twelve months.The NumbersWhen December comes around, most fleets that want trucks to make holiday deliveries have already obtained them (if they can), so […]
Canadian Government Uses Emergency Powers on Truck Blockade
The latest chapter in the Freedom Convoy/Blockade saga has made an interesting turn.On February 14th, Justin Trudeau announced that he was invoking the Emergencies Act of 1988, the first time it will be invoked since first it became law. This has lasting ramifications for truckers.Emergencies ActEstablished almost 25 years ago, Canada’s Emergencies Act gives the […]
Freight Rates Continued to Break Records in January 2022
The coronavirus pandemic keeps on giving. What once was a source of anguish for truckers with massive layoffs across the industry is now causing demand for logistical services to exceed supply, and the rate per mile for all three forms of primary freight have risen yet again, exceeding last month’s new record. DAT Freight & […]
American Freedom Convoy May Be Coming
NoticeThis article was initially written before the Superbowl. Talks are now of the convoy starting March 4th.With all of the buzz surrounding the Freedom Convoy and Blockade in Canada, there is word going around of American truck drivers following in their tracks. Could a Freedom Convoy from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. help lift restrictions […]
Trucking Employment Hits All-Time High in January 2022
We wrote last month about how we were cautiously optimistic about the trucking industry getting more workers than it did before the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated its numbers, and it says that not only are we above pre-pandemic numbers, but trucking is also at the highest employment […]
Midwestern States Create Uniform Weight Limit for Emergencies
Nothing breaks regulation up quite like desperate times.
Freedom Convoy Turns Into Border Blockade
We last wrote about the Canada vaccinations with news of the Freedom Convoy, but it appears that that is now over. The protestors have taken a different direction with their protesting now that they have finished traveling from Vancouver to Ottawa, and are protesting in the Canadian way: through passive resistance. Details You might remember […]
Professional Driver Agency Releases Top Ten Driver Issues
The Professional Driver Agency is a company that works on fleets’ behalf to help retain truckers by keeping the company’s workforce happy. They also conduct research on the side. Through thousands of phone calls in 2021, they have compiled a list of the ten most common complaints. You may think the number one issue has […]
Canadian Truckers Rally “Freedom Convoy” Against Mandated Vaccinations
Starting on Sunday the 23rd and will probably be over by the time you read this, truck drivers in Canada protested vaccine mandates (including one involving crossing the United States border) by having a convoy travel from Vancouver to Ottawa, the capitol. It is over 40 miles long. Details We have talked about our northern […]
Used Truck Auction Prices Skyrocketed in November 2021
We at TopMark Funding try to use the word “skyrocket” sparingly, only for the craziest of circumstances in the trucking industry. We believe J.D. Valuation Services’ numbers for used Class 8 truck auction rates is a perfect example of when to use the word, and when you see the numbers we think you will agree.The […]
Trailer Sales Decrease Slightly for December 2021
Comparable to Class 8 truck sales, trailer sales for the entirety of 2021 were larger than they were in 2019. Unlike the other half of the tractor-trailer combo, the numbers for 2021 were lower than 2020. FTR has the numbers.December 2021 NumbersFreight Transportation Research estimates the order numbers for trailers to be 26,500 in December […]
Canada to Reject Unvaccinated Truckers
The United States Supreme Court may have recently declared the vaccine mandate to be an overstep by OSHA, but when it comes to international affairs, things get a little bit more complicated and the battle over vaccine mandates continues. Truckers traveling to the Great White North will need to provide proof of vaccination in order […]
Truck Sales Rise in December 2021; 2022 Backlog Begins Fulfillment
Another year has passed. While not as hectic as 2020, 2021 had its own set of challenges. Rather than having a hard time finding workers to put into trucks, now companies are scrambling to get as many trucks and parts as they can. December 2021 was pretty good news for Class 8 sales.The NumbersACT Research […]
Trucking Employment Experiences Incremental Growth in December 2021
Here we are at the end of another year. When looking at the entire year as a whole, the trucking industry has made great strides in recovering from the mass layoffs from the start of the coronavirus pandemic. When looking just at December, however, the numbers are slightly lackluster. Here is what the Bureau of […]
An Indiana Toll Road’s Solution to the Parking Problem
We have talked about the commercial truck parking problem before: how drivers can spend almost an hour a day looking for legal parking; how some drivers opt for unsafe, illegal parking; how there are significantly more trucks on the road than spaces to put them at a rate of about six to one. While governments, […]
TopMark Funding’s Year in Review 2021
2021 has been a slightly hectic year. How has yours been? Our predictions mostly came true, most notably the Tesla Semi being delayed another year. The trucking industry has been through a lot this past year; here is a recap. Unlike our last Year in Review where we talked about the biggest articles of the […]
The Quest to Help Rogel Aguilera-Mederos
This has been in the news for a while now, not just in the trucking industry, but nationwide, and attracting the attention of people who could not tell the difference between diesel and gasoline.On April 25th, 2019, truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos was traveling along I-70 when he said his brakes failed. He lost control of […]
Meera Joshi to Step Down from FMCSA
Meera Joshi was all but confirmed by the Senate to become the first FMCSA Administrator in over two years, but a change in direction has caused her to step down after the next month, according to the FMCSA.Homesick for the Big AppleThe reason she is leaving the FMCSA is nothing nefarious or scandalous; she was […]
Sixth Circuit Reinstates Vaccine Mandate
Just when we think we are in the clear, they pull us back in.The Six Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the coronavirus vaccine mandate from OSHA is constitutional, contradicting and removing the stay from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.DetailsYou may be inclined to believe that the higher numbered court has higher power […]
White House Unveils Plan to Combat Trucker Shortage
The common rule of thumb used in the trucking industry is that there is work equal to 80,000 more truckers than there are drivers to do that work. The simplest solution to this would be to increase the pay of truckers to attract more talent, but the business is more complicated than that. To that […]
Top Economist Believes Trucking Industry Will Surge
Donald Broughton, principal and managing partner of Broughton Capital, most notable for predicting in 2007 that an economic recession was just around the corner, has said at the Commercial Carrier Journal’s Solutions Summit in Arizona that the supply shortages holding back the trucking industry are the only thing between it and an economic boom.A Broughton […]
Vaccine Mandates Threaten US-Canada Commerce
It is the same song and dance we have been hearing about for roughly the past year, since vaccines were first available. However, with it potentially impacting the United States shipping relations to Canada, vaccine mandates may once again throw a wrench into the supply chain. Details Beginning in early January 2022, the United States […]
Used Truck Auction Prices Continue Climb in October 2021
J.D. Valuation Services has listed its numbers for used Class 8 auctions in October. The numbers will not be surprising to anyone who has been paying attention to the trucking industry this past year, as a reduced supply and increased demand mean higher prices. Unlike the month prior, where some model years appreciated and others […]
FMCSA Grants Exemption to Canadian Drivers Due to Flooding
It is no surprise that due to the adjacent proximity of Canada to the United States that it is one of our greatest partners in commerce. So much so that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to give assistance to drivers in the Great White North in a time of unprecedented rainfall.DetailsThe entire […]
Truck Sales in November 2021 Show Supply Chain Strain
It appears the supply chain shortages of everything from rubber to aluminum is starting to take its toll on the trucking industry, as the number of new Class 8 truck orders for November 2021 were, for lack of a better word, weak.November 2021 NumbersACT Research pins the number at 9,800 units, while FTR is a […]
Trucking Jobs Jump Again in November 2021
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated its webpage listing the employment numbers for NAICS 484, the trucking industry. Here are the numbers for the past three months.November 2021 NumbersThe numbers posted for November 2021 are:1,521,300 for the initial preliminary count of November 2021.1,515,700 for the revised preliminary employment count of October 2021, a […]
Freight Rate Average Hits All-Time High in November 2021
Supply shortages, coronavirus, and the holiday season combine to bring us the highest freight rates per mile ever recorded by the DAT. Details Dry van shipping increased seven cents, to $2.93. Flatbed logistics actually decreased a bit, going from $3.07 to $3.03. Reefer hauling skyrocketed, rising 17 cents to $3.44. The average increased six cents […]
OOIDA Writes to Buttigieg About Truck Parking
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act may not have had money earmarked for truck parking, but the battle to increase commercial truck parking spots is not over just yet.Todd Spencer, president and CEO of OOIDA, has written a letter to Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, to ask for more parking spots.Much Ado […]
Trailer Orders are Average for October 2021
We are writing about October summary news in December. So much is going on in the trucking industry, it is hard to keep pace with it all!ACT Research and FTR have their estimates for trailer orders in October 2021. While it pales in comparison to the Earth-shattering numbers of the same month last year, it […]
FMCSA Extends COVID-19 Declaration Another Three Months
We wrote at the start of September that it was anyone’s guess as to if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would extend the hours-of-service suspension for hauling in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. We now have our answer: yes, it is being extended.DetailsThe extension was announced on November 29th, just a few days […]
Class 8 Orders Recede for October 2021
This information has been out for a while now, but between port backlogs, infrastructure bills, and vaccine mandate news, it has been on the backburner. Backburner may be an appropriate description for the current state of the Class 8 market as well, as supply chain constraints are causing order numbers to fall and preorders to […]
Rear Guardrails Added to Annual Inspection
The news in the trucking industry has been so hectic this November, we simply could not keep ahead of it.Recently, rear impact trailer guardrails have been added as a requirement for annual FMCSA inspections.DetailsThe change is to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 396 section, which deals with all things inspection and maintenance. Failure to […]
Trucking Continues Job Recovery in October 2021
Slowly but surely, the trucking industry is showing signs of recovering from the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has posted its monthly update for employment count in the trucking industry.October 2021 NumbersThe numbers posted for October 2021 are as follows:The initial preliminary count for October 2021 is […]
Edward Durr, Trucker, Wins New Jersey Senate Seat
It all started with $2,300 and a dream.In the third legislative district for the New Jersey Senate, Edward Durr has beaten Stephen Sweeney in a political upset that shocked the nation. The best part of all is that Edward Durr is no career politician, he’s a truck driver for a furniture company.DetailsWhen you read the […]
Private Companies Step Up to Port Backlog Crisis
First it was the federal government, then it was the state of California, now, private industries are joining in on the efforts to reduce the backlog at the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Retailers Shift to Night Shift With the recent changes to 24/7 operations at the twin ports to help fight […]
Southwestern States Suffer Diesel Shortage
Drivers headed towards the western coast may want to stock up on fuel ahead of time, as various fueling stations in the southwest are starting to feel a strain from a lack of fuel. Details With everything being in short supply nowadays, from computer chips to rubber to human resources, it is hardly a surprise […]
What the Infrastructure Bill Means for Trucking
Three months ago, the United States Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 in a 69-30 vote. Now, the House of Representatives has passed the same bill at a rate of 228-206. Now the bill goes to Joe Biden for a signature to become law.The Effect on TruckingIt is fair to say […]
Department of Energy Announces SuperTruck 3 Project
Your tax dollars at work!The United States government is the world’s single largest consumer of goods and services. One thing it spends money on is research and development to make life easier and safer for all Americans, and sometimes the world at large. To that extent, the Department of Energy has authorized $127 million in […]
Fifth Circuit Stops Vaccine Mandate, for Now
The news is updating faster than we can keep up!Not but a few days after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) posted its vaccine mandate is it halted by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, at least for the time being.DetailsOpposition of the vaccine mandate comes from various organizations and groups, including seven states:UtahLouisianaKansasTexasSouth […]
OSHA Posts Vaccine Mandate, Trucking Not Exempt
The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced on November 4th an emergency temporary standard (ETS) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Truckers are not going to be pleased.DetailsThere are five major points to the ETS.The following rules apply to businesses that are not exempt and have 100 or more employees.Employees of these companies […]
Freight Rates Remain Steady for October 2021
Companies hoping for a break from high shipping prices may have to hold off for yet another month, as freight rates for all three forms of freight were equal to or higher on a per mile basis than the month before.October 2021 NumbersDry van increased three cents per mile, to a total of $2.86 per […]
Newer Used Truck Prices Skyrocket in September 2021
We have been a little slow on the upkeep here regarding the auction prices for used Class 8 vehicles, but the current California port crisis has been taking up much of the news for the trucking industry. Here is a brief respite from all of that with a monthly update on auction prices for used […]
Pete Buttigieg Breaks Silence on Port Backlog
Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, has spoken with Chris Wallace on Halloween, in what is most likely his first public appearance since he had taken paternity leave. He spoke with Chris about climate change, inflation, electric vehicles, and tax credits, but what everyone is interested in hearing about is the greatest logistics disaster since the […]
California Ports to Issue Fines Regarding Ship Backlog
It is hard to get a solid number on the number of ships that are currently in standby at the twin California ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but it is clear the problem has not yet been resolved since Joseph Biden announced plans to ease congestion. The ports have decided to implement a […]
ATA Reports Trucker Shortage 80,000 Strong
The American Trucking Association (ATA) released a report on October 25th, 2021 detailing the current situation of the so-called “trucker shortage”. This number is based on the difference in total employment and the number that would be needed to meet freight demand, including a certain backlog at twin Californian ports that has been making the […]
California Governor Addresses Port Buildup Via Executive Order
Joe Biden may have announced an increase in port operations, but ships are arriving faster than they are leaving, at a slow but ever evident rate. With California being the state with the highest gross domestic product in the nation, its governor Gavin Newsom wants to further accelerate the emptying of ships, and to that […]
First Ever Mayberry Truck Show Held in North Carolina
In an era of trucking where events are being canceled left and right, it is good to see new trucking events taking place. This is the first-annual Mayberry Truck Show.
Jobs Numbers Have Modest Jump for September 2021
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has posted the employment count for the Truck Transportation subsector in regards to September 2021. Here are the results.NumbersThe initial preliminary count for September 2021 is 1,502,900 jobs.Revised August numbers are 1,500,400. This is an increase of 1,900 from the first estimate.Final July employment is at 1,494,400. This is […]
Biden Announces Increase in Port Operations
On October 13th, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. announced that the Port of Los Angeles will commence 24/7 operations for the foreseeable future.DetailsThe news comes after the Port of Long Beach announced that they would be incurring 24/7 operations to help clear the backlog of ships and containers. The two ports, brothers to one another, handle […]
New FMCSA Clearinghouse Requirement Starts November 8th
Come November 8th, getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) will be ever so slightly cumbersome.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will require state driver’s licensing agencies to check the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before issuing, renewing, or upgrading a trucker’s CDL.The ProcessFew would argue against keeping drunk or otherwise intoxicated drivers off the road. […]
Tesla Delays Semi Until at Least 2023
“This is, of course, provided that the Semi is not delayed a fourth time,” we wrote in a previous article about the Tesla Semi. It appears that has just happened, as Elon Musk announced that the electric vehicle company is struggling in the supply chain shortage wars.DetailsThe news comes from a shareholder call from Thursday, […]
Rate Average Hits Record High in September 2021
Maybe it is inflation. Perhaps it is the increased demand for goods delivered by trucks as brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe it is the dearth of truckers available to work. Whatever the case, the rate per mile on trucking continues to rise. DAT has the numbers.September 2021 NumbersDry van increased eight cents per […]
Class 8 Truck Sales Streak Ends in September 2021
Trailer sales ended their streak of consistently outperforming the same time last year in June. Growth is never infinite, and as such the truck sales streak, three months later, has finally ended. September 2021 Numbers ACT Research pegs the number of Class 8 truck sales at 27,400. FTR pins the sales number at 28,400. This […]
J.D. Power Average Auction Rates, January 2021 to August 2021
Since around June 2020, the trucking industry has been on fire. Since around the start of 2021, truck prices have been rising to reflect just that. As component shortages and intense demand ravage the new truck market, the used truck market is also starting to feel the strain as fleets gobble up whatever vehicles they […]
2021 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo Vehicles
The Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo happened near the start of September. Normally we write about the trucking industry, but we provide business financing for all types of equipment, equipment that the ACT Expo had in spades that makes us excited for the future. From conventional day cabs to commercial cargo bikes, here is the […]
Biden Administration Considers Defense Production Act
If you have been in the trucking industry for as long as we have, you are aware that prices on trucks, new and used, are going through the roof. Skyrocketing prices are attributed to global shortages of various components such as rubber and aluminum, but most notably the semiconductor (chip) shortage. In the 21st century, […]
North Dakota Issues State of Emergency to Save its Farms
North Dakota is home to 39,300,000 acres of farmland and is responsible for over $4 billion in agricultural exports every year. Like most states west of the Mississippi River, the Peace Garden State is in desperate need of water. So much so that the state government is declaring a state of emergency to help keep […]
House Omits Truck Parking from Budget
The House of Representatives appears to be much less interested in spending money than the Senate. While the Senate passed a bill authorizing $1 trillion in spending for infrastructure, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure put forth its portion of the 2022 Budget Reconciliation Bill. It has $60 billion set for infrastructure and carbon […]
Will a Vaccine Mandate Upend the Trucking Industry?
The trucking industry is none too happy about Biden’s proposed vaccine mandate for private companies with more than 100 employees. This mandate would require all employees for a trucking company, from the drivers to any mechanics or recruiters, to either be fully vaccinated or take a weekly, uncomfortable test to confirm negative results. Lawsuits are […]
Trailer Sales for August 2021 Are Perfectly Average
When truck orders for 2022 opened, the numbers soared as pent-up demand flowed in orders. With trailers for August, the same pattern still applies, but not to the same extent.
More States Join the Hurricane Ida Club
Hurricane Ida may be long over by now, but the economic fallout from the destruction caused by one of the most intense hurricanes to hit the east coast in recorded history has just begun. Three more states have declared temporary regulatory suspensions in an attempt to accelerate recovery. Hurricane Ida Details This is part three […]
Trucking Industry Shows Disdain to Biden Vaccine Requirement
Joseph R. Biden announced on Thursday that the United States was going to take stronger steps towards combating the coronavirus by making the vaccine a requirement. The announcement has not been popular. Details The Department of Labor declared new regulations to be added soon, requiring all employers with 100 or more workers to either vaccinate […]
2022 Reservations Mean Truck Sales for August 2021
With Original Equipment Manufacturers now allowing orders for deliveries set in 2022, the floodgates have opened. August 2021 was one of the best months of the year for Class 8 truck orders.DetailsFTR has the net number estimated at 39,400. ACT estimates orders at 36,900. Whatever the actual number is, both research companies are confident that […]
Trucking Jobs Leap for August 2021
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is often updating its preliminary numbers before it releases its final answer. We have compiled the changes so that you do not have to. Simply put, things are looking positive for the trucking industry.August 2021 NumbersThe numbers for August are as follows:August 2021: 1,498,500 (preliminary).July 2021: 1,493,100 (preliminary, 1,300 […]
More States Claim Hurricane Ida Emergency
The interesting thing about news in contrast with government is that news moves fast while government moves slowly. In the past few days, more states have entered the fold of declaring a state of emergency due to Hurricane Ida, bringing the total number to seven. Details The first declarations were covered previously, so we will […]
FMCSA COVID-19 Emergency Extended Another Three Months
The previous extension was set to expire at the end of August 31st. Now, only a few hours before it was set to expire, the FMCSA has extended it again. COVID-19 Emergency Details It is the same song and dance as the previous extensions; you can see all of the details on the webpage. In […]
Emergency Declarations for Hurricane Ida
We are about halfway through hurricane season, and we have another one. This time it is Hurricane Ida, and it is hitting states along the Gulf of Mexico. States and agencies are weighing in. Details Here are the various emergency declarations and what they entail. Southern and Western FMCSA Centers This is the most typical […]
Flash Flooding Sparks State of Emergency in Tennessee
It seems to be quite the season for natural disasters. As a result, the emergency declarations keep on coming. This time the declaration comes from Bill Lee, governor of Tennessee.DetailsThe flash flooding is most prominent in Tennessee City, where it weakens further away from the radius, but still covers Nashville and Waverly.The destruction has already […]
NTEA Cancels Conference, but not for the Reason You Expect
Things might finally be returning to normal, as an event in the trucking industry was canceled for a reason other than COVID-19. NTEA The National Trucking Equipment Association (NTEA) has decided to cancel its 2021 Truck Product Conference. Usually at these events, industry leaders show off technological upgrades such as making the truck chassis slightly […]
New York Declares Emergency for Tropical Storm Henri
Governor Andrew Cuomo may be on his way out the door due to resigning amidst sexual harassment allegations, but that is not stopping Mother Nature from threatening havoc. By the time you read this, Tropical Storm Henri should have hit the New York shore. Experts have Henri pinned at a tropical storm of wind speeds […]
FTR Cancels September Conference Amidst Coronavirus Concerns
In what we hope is the last time an event is canceled due to COVID-19, Freight Transportation Research (FTR) has announced that it has canceled its 2021 FTR Transportation Conference in hopes of reducing transmission of coronavirus.DetailsFTR is most notable for its monthly approximations of truck and trailer sales for each month, but they perform […]
Trailer Sales Slide Slightly for July 2021
Last month was a somber one for trailer sales, as the numbers were lower than they were the same month in 2020. This month is a little more disheartening than that, as not only was July 2021 lower than July 2020, but June 2021 as well. July 2021 Details Freight Transportation Research (FTR) estimates the […]
CTA Petitions the Supreme Court
In the latest update of the AB-5 saga, the California Trucking Association, disgruntled with the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling on Justice Roger Benitez’s injunction on California Assembly Bill 5, hopes to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
Senate Passes INVEST in America Act
In a vote of 69-30 (with one senator absent), the United States Senate has voted to pass H.R. 3684, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 or the INVEST in America Act. What does the bill entail, and how are truckers affected should it pass the House of Representatives? H.R. 3684 […]
Biden Signs Executive Order on Truck Emissions
On August 5th, Joseph Robinette Biden Junior signed “Executive Order on Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks.“ It instructs various entities within the executive branch such as the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency to work towards better emission standards on all vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks and their engines.The Executive Order has […]
Class 8 Orders Steady for July 2021
Trailer orders might have ended their 2021 year-over-year increase streak in June, but the Class 8 big rig market is still going strong in July 2021. ACT and FTR have the estimates. Truck Sales July 2021 ACT Research pins the number at 25,800 units sold in the month; FTR, 26,500. The order numbers are ever […]
Trucking Jobs Rise for July 2021
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated the numbers for the trucking industry yet again. The numbers, while mostly preliminary, are looking good.The NumbersEvery month, the BLS updates the data for the last three months. They make a new preliminary estimate, revise an older preliminary, and solidify the final number for three months back.With […]
States’ State of Emergencies for Wildfires
This article was published on Smokey Bear’s 67th birthday. Happy birthday to Smokey Bear! There is always something going on in the approximately 3.5 million square miles that comprise our nation. If it is not hurricane season, it is tornado season; if not tornado season, it is wildfire season. These are the states that are […]
CVSA International Roadcheck 2021 Statistics
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck for 2021 was May 4-6th (though we erroneously reported it as 5-7th earlier this year). Now, they have released the statistics to the public. How does it compare to the International Roadcheck nine months prior? CVSA International Roadcheck Statistics There is a lot of data published. Below […]
Freight Rate Average Approaches $3 Per Mile in July
DAT Freight & Analytics has updated its freight rates for the month prior.
I-40 Bridge Reopened for Public Use
The I-40 Hernando de Soto Bridge, closed in May and diverted in June, is set to be reopened for travel across and under it by the time you can read this article.DetailsThe Hernando de Soto Bridge, connecting Memphis, Tennessee and Arkansas, closed down in mid-May when inspectors from the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) found […]
Joe Biden Speaks at Mack Trucks Plant
On Wednesday, July 28th, Joe Biden flew into Pennsylvania to check out the Mack Trucks Plant in Lehigh Valley. While there he gave an approximately 30-minute speech. Things he discussed included: Creating 600,000 jobs per month since he was in office. The importance of the COVID-19 vaccine. The importance of the United States government buying […]
Minneapolis’ Unique Solution to the Parking Crisis
58% of truck drivers are willing to admit to performing unauthorized parking at least three times per week. Minneapolis’ city council has devised a law that will probably make the citizens and tourists of Minneapolis very happy, but will make truck drivers furious.The LawOn Friday, July 23rd, the city council voted 12-1 for a truck […]
Tesla Semi Delayed Yet Again
About six months ago, we predicted that the Tesla Semi would not hit the market in 2021. Then, they had a battery cell shortage. It looks like our prediction has finally been vindicated, as Tesla Motors announced that the launch date for the Tesla Semi has officially been pushed back to 2022. The Details The […]
Senate Bill Introduced to Repeal Federal Excise Tax
Some causes are worth continuously fighting for. On the 22nd of July, Senator Todd Young (R-IN) introduced bill S.2435 co-sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) to repeal the Federal Excise Tax (FET) on new heavy-duty truck purchases. This is not the first time that the FET has been under scrutiny, but with senators behind it, […]
FMCSA Asks States to go Paperless
It should not be a surprise to anyone that governments tend to be lazy, even with each other. Federal regulations call for states where drivers are convicted to transmit conviction data to the state where the driver is licensed either electronically via Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), or by mail, but not both. The […]
Surprise Brake Inspection Day Results
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) may have a week of brake inspections coming up, but that was warned of months in advance. On May 26th, the CVSA performed an unannounced day of a blitz of safety inspections. Here is what they found. Brake Inspection Summary The day-long event took place across the three largest […]
The United Auto Workers-Volvo Saga
Anyone who has been in the trucking industry for longer than a year knows that demand for trucks (new, used, and components) is rapidly outpacing supply, at least for the short term. What better time to leverage your position than when you are needed most? Whether that was their plan or the timing just happened […]
Hyzon Motors Goes Public; Stock for Sale
Hyzon Motors joins other trucking technology companies such as Nikola Motor Company, Hyliion, and TuSimple by allowing the common man to buy ownership in the company. Here is a summary of the venture and how it became public.DetailsHyzon (a portmanteau of “hydrogen” and “horizon”) Motors started as a part of Horizon Fuel Cells back in […]
Trailer Orders Falter Below 2020 in June 2021
All good things must come to an end. For trailer sales, which wavered at the start of the coronavirus pandemic but came back with a vengeance in June 2020, it appears that the skyrocket has begun to run out of fuel.The NumbersFTR and ACT Research are very close in their estimates this month, at 11,000 […]
Supply Shortage Comes for Individual Components
Remember last year before the COVID-19 lockdowns hit and there were shortages of hand sanitizer and toilet paper. The trucking industry was there to make deliveries, but now that the hand is on the other foot, toilet paper is not coming to save us. Supply Shortage First it was a new truck shortage. Then there […]
Regulation Leaders Meet to Discuss Trucking Employment
On Thursday July 8th, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, and Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) hosted a roundtable to discuss trucking employment. Trucking Employment: Retention Versus Recruitment The “shortage” (the economic law of supply and demand impacting market rates and therefore carriers paying a premium […]
Hours-of-Service Suspended for Hurricane Elsa
It should be no surprise to members in the trucking industry that whenever an “event” happens, regulators relieve some pressure to allow drivers to get their job done more quickly. In just the past eighteen months we have had hours-of-service exemptions for: Novel coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) nationwide. Wildfires along the western coast. Cold snap for states […]
Truck Sales Continue Hot Streak in June 2021
Since at least June 2020, each month of truck sales has been higher than the same month the year prior. We are now entering the anniversary of the “skyrocket” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, where a delay in demand reared its head, so it is hard to say how long the streak will last. For […]
Preliminary Job Numbers Skyrocket in June
Here we are at the end of another month, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated its numbers for the trucking industry yet again. If the preliminary numbers are accurate, then the trucking industry continues to be on a roll.The NumbersThe numbers released in July are:June 2021: 1,486,500 (preliminary).May 2021: 1,480,100 (preliminary, 400 […]
FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Data Summary
Were you aware that each month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) publishes data of violations entered into their Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse? With the program in motion for almost a year and a half, here are the most interesting bits of information. Clearinghouse Details To read the reports, including for months prior, go […]
ARDOT Mitigates I-40 Bridge Closure
It has been about a month and a half since the Hernando de Soto Bridge closed connecting Arkansas and Tennessee over the Mississippi River. While repairs are still underway, the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) is using some tricks of the trade to reduce the impact this closure has on the trucking industry.Traffic ControlHow much […]
Biden Opposes Federal Fuel Tax Increase
We have written extensively on our thoughts about fuel taxes; here is a summary: while not fun to pay, it is by far the most efficient way to pay for roads based on use, and as such an increase is a necessary evil. Both political parties disagree, but perhaps nobody is more opposed to an […]
DOT Releases Spring Regulatory Agenda
On June 11th the Department of Transportation (DOT) released what it calls its “Spring Regulatory Agenda”. It lists the goals of the DOT for the foreseeable future. It also lists what division of the DOT is behind making each particular goal a reality. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was not listed, it still […]
Truck Demand Impacts Used Truck Market
It should be no surprise to anyone who works with us that truck demand is through the roof this year. So much so that trucking companies who normally purchase new are attempting to find solace in the used truck market. While used trucks are cheaper, their prices are on the upswing.
Trailer Sales Follow Truck Sales for May 2021
There appears to be a strong connection between the number of Class 8 trucks sold in a given month and the number of trailers ordered. A statistical analysis of this may make for a good article on an otherwise slow news day, but for now we will focus on the trailer sales for May 2021. […]
Connecticut Legislature Passes Truck VMT
While the governor of the Constitution State has not yet signed the bill into law as of the writing of this article, Ned Lamont has already expressed his support for a miles tax on heavy trucks traveling within Connecticut’s borders.
Trucking Job Numbers Steady for May 2021
Tracking the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job numbers as they update is quite the task. Every month, they not only post preliminary data for the month that has passed, but also update previous months without saying what the prior estimates were, requiring researching back in time. With all of this in mind, from the […]
Truck Sales Keep Keeping On Through May 2021
The two primary data collectors for Class 8 sales in the United States, ACT Research and FTR differ slightly on their estimates for May 2021 truck sales. Ultimately they can agree on one thing: it is a large increase from the same time last year. May 2021 Sales Numbers ACT has their estimate set at […]
Hours-of-Service Exemption Extended to August 31st
Another quarter, another announcement regarding the pandemic. The FMCSA has announced another extension to the hours-of-service (HOS) exemption for the hauling of goods related to the coronavirus state of emergency. Details The declaration can be read in its entirety via the FMCSA’s website. It follows the standard procedure for the exemption, with no modifications or […]
Two Forms of Freight Exceed $3 Threshold In May 2021
The cost of diesel fuel may be rising, but this may put a smile on a trucker’s face, or at least help alleviate the pain. The Numbers All three forms of freight jumped going through May, but dry van hauling simply had too large of a chasm to cross into $3 per mile. It rose […]
The DOT Wants to Boost Equity
On January 20th, 2021, Joe Biden signed an Executive Order. It is named, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”, otherwise known as the Equity E.O. The order tells regulators of various departments to focus on boosting equity in the community. The Department of Transportation (DOT) wants your input on […]
Traffic is the Silent Killer
Traffic is a silent killer, and if Congress wants to save lives and bolster the economy, reducing traffic is a way to do both of them at once. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) compiled and analyzed data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and found some interesting details on the effect that […]
House of Representatives Debates Speed Limiter Bill
American Trucking Simulator is a mostly realistic computer game, but it allows for a lot of trucking fantasies that would never be obtainable in real life. One of our favorites is smashing on the accelerator while traveling downhill on the 80 from Truckee to Sacramento, hitting 102 miles per hour and almost doubling the speed […]
California Air Resources Board Says Biodiesel is King
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that biodiesel and renewable diesel created emissions at a rate 1/3rd of electricity. This is incorrect. The correct metric is that biodiesel and renewable diesel are responsible for 3x more metric ton credits from greenhouse gas reduction than electricity is, based on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard […]
CVSA Brake Safety Week Starts August 22nd
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is back at it again. Even before Operation Safe Driver Week has taken place, the Alliance already has its gears set on inspecting vehicular brakes. Brake Safety Week Details The CVSA states that for the safety of all drivers on the road, a dedicated week to inspections is necessary: […]
What Truckers Can Learn from the Gas Shortage
The Colonial Pipeline is back up and running at approximately 80% capacity, with full capacity to return soon. With the worst of it behind us, now is a good time to reflect on what we can learn from this gas shortage debacle. The Words of George Carlin Most people might think of George Carlin as […]
April 2021: Trailer Sales Shatter Same Time Last Year
ACT Research has published the results of trailer sales for April 2021, and the numbers when compared to the fourth month last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was in full force, can be succinctly described by this GIF:In short, the numbers are exploding!The NumbersLooking at the transition from March to April, you may be inclined […]
I-40 Bridge Shut Down Until Further Notice
Do you enjoy crumbling infrastructure? Hearing about backlogs of roads and bridges that need proper maintenance to avoid catastrophe?
DOT Allows Overweight Hauling of Fuels
One of the quickest ways to get a headache is to research the overlap between federal and state regulations and governments. We hope to save you a headache by explaining in layman’s terms to the best of our ability what the federal government’s second declaration (the first being the hours-of-service-suspension) means. Overweight Hauling on Interstate […]
April 2021: Trucking Jobs Dip by About a Thousand
The preliminary numbers for April 2021 trucking jobs, as well as the solidified numbers for February 2021, have both come in. The numbers are very similar, in that both say the trucking industry saw a decrease in jobs, but not by much. The Numbers As of April 2021 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says […]
FMCSA Declares Regional Emergency Regarding Fuel
Notice: As of May 11th the FMCSA has added West Virginia to the list of affected states. Colonial Pipeline owns over 5,500 miles of pipe from Texas to New York. It was the victim of a malware attack starting on May 7th, 2021. In response, Colonial Pipeline has shut down its system, which transferred 100 […]
April 2021: Flatbed Rates Jump, Others Waver
Historically, reefer trailer hauling has been the most revenue-generating form of freight, and it is not hard to see why. Running a reefer requires additional diesel to keep cargo at adequate temperatures, an expense that factors into the price per mile for the freight. We live in unusual times, however, and for at least a […]
AB-5 Applies to Trucking, Appeals Court Ruled
Nine months ago we wrote about how the case of CTA v. Becerra had an injunction on it, allowing owner-operators to continue leasing under another trucking company’s authority. Now, over a year since the injunction was first placed, it appears the end may be in sight. The ninth circuit has ruled that AB-5 is not […]
National Work Zone Awareness Week Is April 26th-30th
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is attempting to bring awareness to driving extra cautiously in work zones, especially in the time of the coronavirus pandemic where such injuries have been exacerbated.Cone ZoneAn average person may be inclined to believe that COVID-19 has reduced injuries on the road. The truth is that with fewer […]
TuSimple Goes Public, Stock for Sale
We have written about TuSimple a few times before. Now they are increasing the stakes of their plans for autonomous trucking by having an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and allowing people to take ownership in the company. The Details TuSimple had its IPO on April 15th, of which it raised about $1 billion in additional […]
Trucking Insurance Bill Reintroduced to Congress
It appears as though every single bill relating to trucking that died in the halls of Congress in 2020 is making a comeback for the new year. The latest one is the Improving National Safety by Updating the Required Amount of Insurance Needed by Commercial Motor Vehicles per Event (INSURANCE) Act of 2019. Despite its […]
March 2021: One Year of Lockdowns Means More Trailer Sales
Nobody can predict the future, but they can certainly make educated guesses about it.
Companies and Drivers Split on DRIVE-Safe Act
If you are a citizen of 49 different states or the District of Columbia (New York being the sole exception), you can drive with a CDL within state borders at various ages between 18 and 21. Once a truck driver crosses state borders, however, it becomes a federal issue and the CDL holder must be at least 21.
Meera Joshi Promoted to FMCSA Administrator
In mid-April, Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Meera Joshi as the administrator to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Does this sound familiar? If the news sounds like a repeat from the beginning of the year, there is a slight change that makes this different than before. Technical Promotion Until now, Joshi […]
CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week Starts July 11th
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is once again in sight. Like last year, the CVSA is putting a hefty focus on speeding, and with all of the data regarding speeding, it is easy to see why.
First Truck Stop Vaccination Clinic Opens
Notice This article was written before, and published on, the day that the CDC has declared a pause in the use of the J&J vaccine. The current status of administering vaccines at the Native Pride Travel Plaza, as to whether they have switched to other vaccines or have stopped altogether, is currently unknown. The article […]
March 2021: Trucking Industry Continues to Rock
For a majority of the past year, we have been writing about how the pent up demand for trucking services due to the coronavirus pandemic has caused the trucking industry to rebound with terms such as “on fire” and “skyrocket on top of a skyrocket”. Frankly, we are running out of terms to describe how well the trucking industry is performing right now. Exploding? Volcanic?
March 2021: Freight Rates Held High
While the numbers deviated slightly from the update in the middle of March, the massive jump in rates for all three forms of freight held steady.
Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Plan and How it Impacts Truckers
On March 31st, the office of Joe Biden released the details for the American Jobs Plan. The entire infrastructure plan press release clocks in at almost 12,000 words. Reading it is a time-consuming project, but if you want to, you can view it on the fact sheet webpage. For those who have better things to […]
Truck Parking Bill Makes a Comeback
2021 is the new 2020. While many bills related to the trucking industry died in the legislative process in the previous year, many of them are getting a second wind with a new Congress and White House. One of these is an attempt to resolve the perpetual problem of truck parking, a problem that was […]
Congress Considers Side Guards for Trailers
Side guards might seem like another costly regulation for truckers, but they can help other drivers keep ahead.
Bureaucracy Impedes Trucker COVID-19 Vaccinations
The general procedure of receiving a coronavirus vaccine, as it is now, requires the patient to be a member of the eligible phase (currently 1a, 1b, or even 1c in some states), and prove they are a citizen of the state distributing the vaccine.
FMCSA Hosts 20th ART Forum
On March 10th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held its 20th annual Analysis, Research, and Technology (ART) Forum, and the first under the Biden presidency with a new change of officials. ART is used to discuss how technology is used to fulfill the FMCSA’s goals, namely minimizing truck crashes, and was especially fitting because […]
February 2021: Trailer Sales Far Exceed Same Time Last Year
Listen to this article Similar to the trailer sales in January, February trailer purchases decreased when compared to the month prior, but are extraordinarily higher than they were at the same time last year. ACT Research has compiled and reported the numbers. Trailer Sales Numbers February 2021’s trailer sales totaled approximately 24,000 units. This is […]
Projected March Freight Rates Large if Held
We usually only post about the freight rates when DAT has solidified the numbers, usually a week after the month has passed. We have made exceptions for notable changes in freight rates, and here is another one. While we are only a little bit over halfway through the month, DAT is estimating freight rates to […]
FMCSA Extends Regional Emergency for Six States
Listen to the article We wrote how we thought this state of emergency would not need an extension, and in twenty-eight cases we were right. However, some states were hit harder by the cold weather than others, and as such, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expanding the state of emergency in these six […]
The PRO Act of 2021
You might remember last year a bill called the Protecting Right to Organize (PRO) Act made it through the House of Representatives, but died either in the senate or on the president’s desk. It is making a comeback, and with Democrats in control of the house, senate, and presidency, it may just become law. History […]
American Society of Civil Engineers Says Roads Are D-Grade
It only takes hitting one pothole on the road to understand that United States roads are an infrastructure investment that nearly everyone supports. But with such bipartisan approval, roads continue to remain in states of disrepair. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) grades different aspects of infrastructure in the United States, ranging from aviation […]
February 2021: Trucking Jobs Down Slightly for Slow Season
The winter months after the holiday season are generally the slowest months of the year for the trucking industry, so it may not come as a surprise that the preliminary numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that employment numbers in the industry are down. The Numbers Preliminarily, the BLS pins the total count […]
February 2021: Truck Sales Up, Period.
For the month prior, truck sales were either great or bad depending on if you looked at the increase from last year or last month, respectively. With February, truck sales have increased no matter the angle.The NumbersAccording to Freight Transportation Research (FTR), 44,000 Class 8 trucks were sold in February. This is a tiny 3% […]
ATRI Releases List of Worst Trucking Bottlenecks
The American Transport Research Institute (ATRI), known for its annual trucking surveys, has released its list for the worst trucking bottlenecks in 2020. The Department of Transportation hopes to use the information to better allocate spending dollars to critically-needed infrastructure. Here are the details and results of the endeavor. Methodology ATRI collected and compiled GPS […]
February 2021: Rates and Trend Lines Rise
After a few months of different freight rates going in different directions, it is good to finally see all of them move in the same direction for February 2021. The fact that they all went up in a month that usually sees decreases is simply the cherry on top.
January 2021: Trailer Sales Follow Truck Sales’ Footsteps
It is probably a surprise to nobody that truck sales for any given month has a similar pattern as trailer sales, namely that as truck sales increase, trailer sales tend to increase as well. Last month’s truck sales yielded positive or negative results depending on the angle it was approached; trailer sales did the same. […]
Department of Labor Changes Direction on Sleeper Berth Pay
Not a direct order of Biden but instead implemented by people he approved within the Department of Labor, the regulations regarding off-time pay is shifting back to what it was before the Trump administration. Off-Time Pay Should drivers traveling across the country be compensated for their downtime, considering they are never truly off when on […]
FMCSA Declares Regional Emergency For Cold Snap
It was but five months ago that the FMCSA declared a regional emergency for the west coast states in response to rampant wildfires in that area. Now it is time for over 30 other states, plus Washington D.C., to receive additional support from the nation’s truckers due to a cold wave.Cold Snap Delivery DetailsThe state […]
The New Peterbilt 579
Recently, the folks over at PACCAR unveiled their newest upgrade to their 579 line of Class 8 trucks, aptly called “The New Model 579”. Peterbilt is hoping to innovate and change the way that truckers perform their jobs. Here is what Peterbilt touts as changes from the previous model. Aerodynamics While Peterbilt advertises eleven key […]
Tesla Faces Battery Cell Shortage
Approximately two weeks ago, we predicted that the Tesla Semi would not come out in 2021. This was not based on any confirmation, but a hunch that the streak of delaying the Semi’s release would continue. While the Tesla Semi is still slated for a 2021 release according to the company, it has hit a […]
January 2021: Truck Sales Down, but Also Up
ACT and FTR differ on their numbers for Class 8 truck sales by a few hundred each month, but their general messages are the same. This prior month’s message being that the trucking industry is cooling off from the holiday season, but still shows promise of being on fire.The NumbersACT has sales for January set […]
January 2021: Flatbed Rates Rise, Others Stumble
In tandem with the previous two months of freight data, one form of freight deviates in direction from the others. This month, however, two dropped while only one rose.The DataOf the three forms of freight, the largest change happened with dry vans, dropping nine cents to have its rate the lowest since August. It is […]
Meera Joshi to Become FMCSA Deputy Administrator
If you have been following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) news for a while now, three names might ring as familiar: Raymond Martinez, Jim Mullen, and Wiley Deck. These three were the deputy administrators of the FMCSA during the Trump Administration, for varying amounts of time. With the transition to the Biden Administration, […]
Biden’s First 100 Days and How it May Affect Trucking
A few days after election day, we were hesitant to officially call for Biden’s election victory due to numerous fraud allegations and lawsuits for the time between election day and inauguration day. But, all of that is behind the country and by the time you read this, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. should be sworn in […]
PACCAR Parts Releases Universal Electric Charging Station
One problem facing electric vehicles is different plugs and outlets for charging depending on the vehicle. PACCAR Parts wants to alleviate this problem for drivers, even if they are not direct customers of PACCAR brands such as Kenworth and Peterbilt.Universal ChargingWhether you have started making the transition to electric commercial vehicles or plan to do […]
DOT Lays Groundwork for Automated Trucking Standards
While Elaine Chao has resigned from Secretary of the Department of Transportation by the time you read this article, one of her last acts was to order the DOT to create and publish what it calls the “Automated Vehicles Comprehensive Plan” (AVCP).It is no secret that self-driving trucks are still far away from becoming reality, […]
DOT Secretary Elaine Chao Announces Resignation
Secretary of the Department of Transportation Elaine Chao has announced that she will be resigning from her position, effective January 11th. This marks the end of the second-longest cabinet holding behind Mike Pence himself: Elaine Chao started January 31st, 2016. Details Elaine Chao cites the storming of the U.S. Capitol as her reason for not […]
December 2020: Reefer Rates Stumble, Others Rise
For November, we wrote how flatbeds had their average per-mile rate reduced while the other two forms of freight increased. Poetically, it is now the refrigerated trailer to have its turn to reduce in rate.The DataWhile the numbers do not increase with the same intensity as they did in the middle of 2020, they do […]
Query the Clearinghouse to Avoid a Fine
The grace period for not being inside the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, a database of drivers and such violations, is approaching its end rapidly, January 6th. If you drive under your own Authority, you must conduct a limited query for yourself and all drivers under your Authority by that date, or you may be […]
TopMark Funding’s Top 12 Trucking Articles of 2020
Unless your name is Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, there is a pretty good chance this was not your year. From a potential World War III in January, to the COVID-19 pandemic that started in March and is still going today, to the summer protests and blocked highways, this year had it all. We want […]
Safest and Most Dangerous States to Drive
Savvy readers might remember that we analyzed a list of the best and worst states in which to drive at the start of this year, and how we voiced our concerns about the weight metrics being less than fair. For example, average gas prices were 12.86% of the grade for a state, while bad driving […]
CVSA Releases International Roadcheck 2020 Statistics
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) was planning to have its International Roadcheck this year in May, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was delayed. As we learned more about the virus and how to minimize transmission, as well as realizing it would be a while before it went away entirely, the CVSA decided […]
November 2020: Trailer Sales Drop, but Are Still High
In the last trailer sales article, we left with this prediction: “…we believe that the pent-up demand for goods, combined with the holiday season, will lead to equal or greater trailer sales in November.” It appears we were wrong this time. October sales had an average estimate of 55,350. For the month of November 2020, […]
FMCSA to Streamline CDL Training
Under the current system of rules, third-party companies such as private truck-driving schools could not be both the trainer and the examiner for a driver. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to publish a Final Rule in the Federal Register changing this. The new regulations will make it so that the trainer and […]
Pete Buttigieg to Lead Department of Transportation
We wrote about what a Biden presidency would mean for the trucking industry in mid-November. In that article, our first point was that the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Elaine Chao, would end her nearly four year term by being replaced. You have read the title of this article, so you know who […]
The Parking Problem and how to Alleviate it
The trucking industry is on fire (in a good way). Freight rates are the highest they have been in recent history, the Outbound Tender Volume Index is on the precipice of breaking new records, and new truck sales numbers just keep growing. All of these individually are great, but combined they bring forth a new […]
FMCSA Starts Applying Pulsating Brake Lights to More Trucks
Remember in October when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) started allowing tanker trucks to use pulsating amber brake lights? It may be added to more truck types soon enough, as the FMCSA has granted Grote Industries LLC a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers operating trailers and van body trucks to install […]
November 2020: New Truck Sales Continues Streak
Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) released their data on new Class 8 truck sales for November 2020 on December 2nd. We predicted the numbers would stagnate and be approximately equal to those found in October, at around 40,100. To say the very least, we were wrong. The Data FTR reports preliminary data that says that […]
November 2020: Early Trucking Numbers Suggest Strong Growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases two statistics each month: one is the preliminary numbers (estimate) for the month prior, and the other is a more accurate count for three months prior. The solid numbers for September came in with November’s preliminaries, and while the former is essentially what the BLS has suspected, the […]
Truckers on High Priority List for COVID-19 Vaccines
As the coronavirus vaccines are finalized and become ready for distribution, the question remains as to who gets the first round of doses. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an arm of the CDC, recently reached a nearly-unanimous vote on Monday approving a three step plan for vaccine distribution:Phase 1a: Healthcare workers and residents […]
November 2020: Flatbed Rates Stumble, Others Rise
Growth cannot last forever. After a long run of consistently rising freight rates, it appears flatbed rates are the first of the three to have a month lower than the previous month.Not to worry, however, as the flatbed rates only dropped one cent, so while flatbeds stumble, they are not tumbling down an impossible to […]
Nikola Motor and GM Sign Memorandum of Understanding
Nikola Motors Corporation has been through the wringer in the past few months, but there is at least one company that still holds faith in them, General Motors. GM, who swapped shared with Nikola in the early summer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the fledgling technology company, to show intention to use […]
The One Permanent Benefit to Truckers from COVID-19
Coronavirus news has been taxing since April. Nonstop news of infection rates, layoffs, cancellations are all very difficult for which to manage. You might be tired of wearing a mask and may have cheated once or twice by not wearing it at the diesel pump. In spite of everything that has happened this year, there […]
Outbound Tender Volume Index Hits All-Time High
What do you get when you combine pushed back demand from the coronavirus pandemic with the demand of Black Friday? You get the highest demand for truckload shipments in recent history. Since FreightWaves created the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), it is at the highest it has ever been.OTVIFreightWaves describes outbound tender as:“…a load offer […]
Coronavirus Vaccine Exacerbates Strained Reefer Capacity
The COVID-19 vaccine seems to be a rousing success, as companies developing them tout a 90-95% efficacy rate in testing. We have already written about one of the difficulties of distribution of the vaccine: keeping the vaccines cold. In that article, we lightly scratched on another problem that deserves more attention: the demand for reefer […]
Renewable Natural Gas Trucks Break Through Zero Emissions Barrier
Savvy readers of our articles may recall from late June that we wrote about Hyliion and their plans for the Hypertruck. Hyliion hoped to have their Hypertruck be negative emissions through the use of renewable natural gas (RNG). While the Hypertruck is not released yet, there is tangible proof now that their goal is attainable.Driving […]
AB-5: Truckers Are Down, but not Out
On November 19th, the California Court of Appeals reversed the court decision in People v. Cal Cartage Transportation Express, LLC. In short, the appeals court ruled that the “ABC” test that comprises the heart of AB-5 is not in contradiction with federal law and as such is not overridden by it. The California Court In […]
Can the Trucking Industry Defeat Coronavirus?
If the coronavirus pandemic were a war, truckers would be the front line infantry, going out into the field to give people the supplies they need to either stay healthy (sanitizers and face masks), or to stay quarantined (food and entertainment supplies). With two different COVID-19 vaccines both showing a minimum 90% efficacy rate, it […]
Are Freight Rates Correlated to Driver Shortage?
It does not take an expert in economics to understand the fundamental balance between supply, demand and price. The trucking industry has been said to have a “driver shortage” for a long time now, but if the basic principle of supply versus demand holds, there would be a negative correlation between those employed and the […]
October 2020: Trailer Sales Have Consecutive Record
“September’s rank as third-best month in industry history was short-lived, as October activity now takes that title,” Frank Maly, director CV Transportation Analysis and Research at ACT Research, said.As we predicted back in October, the trailer sales for that month were higher than those of September, by only a few thousand. A 6% increase, more […]
Traton to Purchase Navistar for $3.7 Billion
We did not want to write about this Traton-Navistar deal as it was in progress, but it appears that the negotiations have been finalized. Traton, subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, is purchasing Navistar in its entirety.DetailsBefore the buyout agreement, Traton owned 16.7% of all common shares in Navistar, meaning that their purchase was not a […]
October 2020: Both Job Numbers Jump 10,000 Each
When it comes to the monthly job totals for the trucking industry, the question for the last six months has not been whether the number goes up or down, but by how much it goes up. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has updated its numbers at the start of November, showing preliminary numbers for […]
FMCSA to Conduct Autonomous Truck Opinion Surveys
Unless all the election news has pushed older information out of your brain, you may remember that the FMCSA spoke at an ATA virtual conference about many topics, one of which was working to make self-driving commercial vehicles as safe as possible. But beyond safety, there are many more uncertainties to autonomous trucks. Will they […]
Query the Clearinghouse now, not Later
It has been almost a year since the FMCSA instituted the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which means that the deadline for running a limited query for all fleets in the nation is rapidly approaching. Here are the details of the regulations and why you should have the query done for your fleet, whether it’s a […]
October 2020: New Truck Sales Increase. Again!
Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) has released its latest wave of sales information regarding new Class 8 trucks. While not a two-year high, October 2018 was higher, the numbers improving upon Septembers’ victory for the trucking industry is still phenomenal.The DataNew truck sales totaled approximately 40,100 for October, according to FTR. This is an 83% […]
October 2020: Freight Rates Continue to Defy Expectations
What do you get when you take the coronavirus pandemic’s pushing of consumer demand into later months of the year, and combine it with the infancy of the holiday season? You get October 2020, another month of consecutive growth for freight rates. In all three categories, the price per mile has gone up higher than […]
Brokers and Small Carriers Butt Heads, with FMCSA Referee
On October 28th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held another virtual conference, this time regarding broker regulations. In attendance were representatives from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA), and the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). As you can imagine, the TIA wants fewer regulations, and the OOIDA and SBTC […]
ATRI Releases 2020 Trucking Issues Survey Results
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released the results of its 2020 survey asking stakeholders in the trucking industry their thoughts on things that impact the trucking industry. Their report is a very insightful 26-page behemoth of knowledge, but for our reading base, primarily of truckers who would rather spend more time on the road […]
Traton and Hino Team up for Alternative Fuel
It seems like for the trucking industry in 2020, everyone is working together with everyone else. Yesterday was an article about partnerships in the development of autonomous trucking, and now there is more news in the sphere of green fuels: Traton SE and Hino Motors Limited have signed an agreement to work on battery-electric and […]
FMCSA Speaks at Virtual Conference
On October 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck spoke at the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) virtual version of its Management Conference and Exhibition. The event was turned into a virtual one this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here is what he spoke about. Under 21 Drivers With the trucking industry […]
First 2021 Trucking Event to be Cancelled by COVID-19
Back when the coronavirus pandemic officially started back in March, it was safe to assume the whole thing would blow over by 2021 and that 2020 was but a fluke year. As we get closer and closer to 2021, that possibility seems to be becoming bleaker and bleaker. A small blow was dealt to the […]
September 2020: Trucking Jobs Have Moderate Jump
It is the same song and dance we have been doing for the past few months: the trucking industry, while having it happen later than other industries, dropped a bit from the coronavirus pandemic, and is climbing its way back up in a slow but sure manner. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released […]
Department of Labor to Clarify Independent Contractor Status
When a truck driver hears about laws and regulations determining the difference between an independent contractor and employee, the first thing that may come to mind is California AB-5, one of the strictest standards in the nation for determining employee eligibility. At the federal level, however, the Department of Labor (DOL) wants to revise their […]
Kenworth T680E Available for Order
Fully electric Class 8 vehicles that can travel along the California coast in a single charge are still off into the future, but that does not mean that electric semi-trucks do not exist now. One example of such a machine is the Kenworth T680E, which will go into production and be for sale at Kenworth […]
FMCSA Grants Tanker Trucks Pulsating Brake Light
You might remember how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) allowed a single company, Groendyke Transport, to add pulsating amber brake lights to the rear of their tanker trucks. You might also remember that rear-end collisions dropped over 33% for the tanker trucks equipped with them. Finally, you may recall that the FMCSA was […]
September 2020: Trailer Sales Nearly Break Record
Freight Transportation Research (FTR) has been tracking trailer sales for a very long time. It means a lot when September 2020 was the third-highest month for trailer sales since they started keeping track. The Details August’s trailer sales, according to FTR, were about 28,700. Now, for September, trailer sales reached 52,000, according to preliminary numbers. […]
Hino and Toyota to Bring Fuel-Cell Truck to North America by 2022
Some trucking tech companies such as Tesla and Nikola want to bring electricity to the trucking industry as a viable fuel source, but what happens after that? Generating electricity can still be environmentally damaging, and can take hours to fully charge a heavy truck. Hino and Toyota are thinking one step ahead by trying to […]
Truckers Gather in Washington D.C. for 10-4 Event
A week after the publishing of this article, October 2nd, marked the third annual “That’s a Big 10-4 on Washington D.C.” event. Normally the event lasts multiple days, but because of today’s landscape between the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest during an election year, the event was compacted into a single day.The DetailsMissed the event […]
September 2020: New Truck Sales Hit Almost Two-Year High
According to Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR), around 20,500 new trucks were sold in the month of August. Now the September numbers are in, and if you have been following the truck sales for the past few months, it should not surprise you. The Data New trucks sold for September according to FTR totaled 32,000. […]
September 2020: Freight Rates Are Up, Again
There seems to be no stopping the trucking industry. For yet another consecutive month, the freight rates for all three primary forms of shipment (dry van, flatbed, and reefer) have increased yet again. Part of the blame can be shifted to the crash in rates that happened in the spring of this year, but using […]
Western Star Unveils 49X Truck: Features
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), the parent company of Western Star, has officially revealed the company’s latest vocational truck. The company considers it the natural evolution of the 4900 series of work trucks.“We know the 4900 is a great product, but we also know that it doesn’t bring the best of technology to the customer,” […]
FMCSA Extends Other Exemptions Until 2021
If you have been following the news regarding the coronavirus pandemic, you may remember two things:The hours-of-service exemption was extended until the end of 2020.Other exemptions, such as the CDL renewal, CPL renewal, and medical certification renewal, were provided.On September 18th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) combined the two and made it so […]
Tesla Announces Semi Battery Upgrade
On September 22nd, 2020, Tesla shareholders gathered in Fremont, California to hear the latest from Elon Musk and Tesla Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Drew Baglino. Sitting in their cars to social distance in the era of COVID-19, shareholders learned the latest technological advancements to Tesla’s vehicles. The most interesting of which is […]
North Dakota to Consider Road Trains
It does not take a trucking expert to understand that hauling double trailers takes a lot more skill and finesse than a single. How can drivers haul more freight while reducing crashes? The state of North Dakota plans to have its legislature discuss the topic in January. The Great Debate The way things are now […]
FMCSA Announces New Committee Through MCSAC
The United States government is a complicated system. In a short summary relating to truckers, the president appoints the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, who then manages the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is a tall building where it may feel as though the limit of trucker input is voting for the […]
FMCSA Changes Hours-of-Service Soon: What to Know
On September 29th, truckers will breathe a sigh of relief as FMCSA hours-of-service regulations are loosened and allow more leeway to the driver. If you have been delivering for the many various State of Emergencies that have plagued 2020, you may have forgotten what the changes to the hours-of-service regulations entail. Here is a refresher […]
Proposed Hours-of-Service Revisions Taken to Court
It seems as though every trucking industry change is taken to court at some time or another. This time, it is a change that most truckers are looking forward to: the changes in hours-of-service regulations. Intended to provide added flexibility to a trucker’s daily work, the hours-of-service changes are being challenged by safety groups arguing […]
August Trailer Sales: “Skyrocket” is an Understatement
Either in spite of, or because of, all the crazy events happening in 2020, trailer sales for the recent months have been going up, up, up. We at TopMark Funding wrote in an article for July trailer sales, saying, “It will be interesting to see where August stands on the scale.” That data is officially […]
Preliminary Job Numbers Suggest Trucking Industry Is Healing
Another month has gone by since we last reported on the coronavirus pandemic affecting job numbers. Although the pandemic appears to not have an end in sight, society as a whole has become acclimated to the pandemic, and things are returning slightly back to normal. Some people are going back to work (albeit working from […]
COVID-19 State of Emergency Extended to End of Year
Every month for a while now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been extending the State of Emergency by another month. The FMCSA has decided to take a more proactive approach, and as of September 11th the State of Emergency has been extended until the end of the year. The Details You can […]
FMCSA Extends Emergency for Western Wildfires
Between COVID-19, hurricanes, and now wildfires, it seems the whole United States is in a constant state of emergency. There is little need to worry though, truckers have the means to get us through these hard times. Even more so because, like for the hurricanes before it and the coronavirus pandemic going on now, the […]
Section 179 Deduction 2020 Guide
Get Cash Back From the IRS 2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the very least. Fortunately, the United States government has many programs in place to help provide relief for its citizens. One such example that is likely to get additional use this year is Section 179, a tax deduction for businesses to […]
General Motors and Nikola Corporation Partner Up
We at TopMark Funding have talked about Nikola Corporation going public and how you can become a part-owner in the fledgling company. Now, it seems General Motors wants a piece of the action. The companies have announced plans to become part-owners of one another. The Details The companies became part-owners of one another by swapping […]
FMCSA Proposes Under-21 Pilot Program
If you have been following trucking industry news before the coronavirus pandemic hit the forefront, you may remember that Congress debated the DRIVE Safe Act. Apparently that bill died in the halls of Congress, because truckers under the age of 21 still cannot haul freight via semi-truck across state lines. The FMCSA wants to give […]
New Truck Orders Go Every Direction in August 2020
Pardon the pun, but the trucking industry is on a roll. Trucking sales rose for yet another consecutive month. The Data Two studies, one from the Freight Transportation Research Associates (FTR) and the other from Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company (ACT), tell ever so slightly different stories. ACT estimates Class 8 truck sales for the […]
California AB-5 Law Hits 9th Circuit of Appeals
We at TopMark Funding have written about the AB-5 bill before. In the last article covering the bill, we talked about how U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez issued a preliminary junction against it, meaning that until the lawsuit between the State of California and the California Trucking Association (CTA) is resolved, the default position is […]
Waymo Begins Testing Autonomous Trucks in Texas
Alphabet Inc., known primarily for their Google search engine and YouTube video platform, has a subsidiary known as Waymo. Waymo has two wings, Waymo One for typical four-wheel driving of passenger vehicles, and Waymo Via, where they are testing the technology in 18-wheelers for long distance deliveries.Waymo is still a far way away from making […]
Hurricane Laura and how it Impacts Truckers
In the early hours of Thursday, August 27th, Hurricane Laura hit the eastern Gulf Coast of the United States. It first hit land in Louisiana, eventually touching Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama. A category 4 hurricane, Laura has winds reaching 150 MPH but not quite reaching the 156 MPH needed to be a category 5 like […]
Pandemic Strengthens FMCSA Inspection Powers
It is a secret to absolutely nobody that there has been a pandemic for the past six months or so. The federal government, especially the White House, has been making efforts to reduce not only the health effects of COVID-19, but the secondary collateral effects on the economy as well. This scenario the world finds […]
Kenworth Expands T270 and T370 Variations
Whether you are a fleet owner hoping to add a new Kenworth medium-duty truck to your fleet, or a dealer hoping to add some variety to your dealership lot, your decisions in regards to T270s and T370s just became much more varied. The Default Before we go into the new options for your truck, it […]
Will New CARB Regulations Save the Environment?
Pollution is bad. Nobody would reasonably argue against this. Anyone who lives in or has recently driven through TopMark Funding’s home state of California can see the dense smoke haze covering the state, giving headaches to anyone foolish enough to go outside without a face mask for even a small handful of minutes.How timely it […]
Peterbilt Model 220EV Now Available for Order
The race to get a viable fully electric heavy-duty truck is still on, but the lower difficulty challenge of doing the same for medium-duty trucks appears to be coming to a close. Now, Peterbilt Motors Company joins the lineup of electric vehicles in the Class 6 and Class 7 markets, thanks to the Peterbilt Model […]
FMCSA Opens Feedback on Broker Transparency Petition
Three months ago, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), requesting new regulations and/or increased enforcement of current ones. Now, the FMCSA is opening comments to the public allowing them to submit their thoughts. The Story So Far Current rules state that records of brokered transactions must be […]
July Trailer Sales (Also) Skyrocket on a Skyrocket
The numbers are in. We had written about June trailer sales at approximately this same time last month, and Freight Transportation Research (FTR) has released its latest data for new trailer sales. July 2020 shattered all expectations.By the NumbersIt does not take a trucking industry expert to imagine that the coronavirus pandemic caused new trailer […]
Trucking Organizations Cooperate for Coronavirus Protection
At this point it is no secret that truckers and the trucking industry are the front-line warriors of the fight against the invisible foe known as COVID-19. Especially during the harshest lockdown days and even true to the present, truckers are delivering valuable goods to help people stay safe and healthy. What may come as […]
Used Truck Association Reworks Event to be Virtual
With all of the cancellations of physical events and adding of new virtual events in their stead, it may not come as a surprise to many that the Used Truck Association (UTA) is changing the UTA Convention, set on November 4th to the 7th, into a fully virtual event. What may be surprising is that […]
Coronavirus State of Emergency Extended to September
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration state of emergency has been extended for another month. This is the fifth extension, set to last until September 14th, but may be extended yet again.Changes MadeYou can read the declaration in full on the FMCSA declaration’s webpage. In summary, the exemption for hours-of-service has been extended, with a […]
CVSA International Roadcheck Starts September 9th
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, normally having their International Roadcheck in June, scheduled it this year for May 5th to 7th. Later, it was postponed until further notice as a result of a certain worldwide pandemic. Now, the CVSA has decided that the pandemic has cooled down enough where having the event to improve safety […]
Despite Pandemic, Trucking Industry Keeps on Rolling
Here at TopMark Funding, we wrote about how we believed the coronavirus pandemic was ending soon. That article is almost two months old at this point, and the pandemic continues. The interesting thing is that despite all of the fear of the coronavirus pandemic for the past five or so months, the trucking industry continues […]
July Truck Sales Skyrocket on Top of a Skyrocket
The demand for new trucks in 2020 was not reduced from the coronavirus pandemic, merely moved forward in time. According to Freight Transportation Research (FTR), North American Class 8 sales in July was approximately 20,000 units. That is 28% higher than in June, and to compare apples to apples, double the orders from July 2019. […]
Industry Advocates Congress to “Suspend the FET”
If you have been in the trucking industry long enough to have bought a truck, you know about the Federal Excise Tax (FET), a tax that was implemented in 1917 to help finance World War I and has been chugging along ever since, for well over a century by now!The FET adds 12% to a […]
More Truckstop Chains Require Face Masks
Not too far back, we wrote about how Love’s is requiring face masks in all of its over 500 locations. Now, Pilot company (Pilot and Flying J) and TravelCenters of America (TA and Petro) are following suit.Desperate Times; Desperate MeasuresThe declarations from the three companies comes off the heels of various state governments once again […]
Nikola, Tesla Race to Build Electric Truck Factories
In the 19th century Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla duked it out to determine the future of electricity between DC and AC. Now, two companies, both named after the winner of that debacle, are battling it out to get their electric trucks out to market. Nikola Nikola Motor Company is the underdog in the competition. […]
Love’s to Require Face Masks
Operating about 520 locations in 41 states, Love’s Travel Stops (the company) will require customers to wear face masks at all of its businesses. This includes Love’s Travel Stops, Love’s Truck Care, Love’s-owned hotels, and Speedco locations.The culprit behind this decision is none other than our beloved friend the Coronavirus.COVID-19 WoesFighting a pandemic is a […]
Wabash National to Sell Zero-Emission Reefers
We have written a lot about zero-emission trucks, but when it comes to hauling perishable goods such as frozen foods, tractors are only half of the equation. The reefer unit also needs to use energy in order to offset the second law of thermodynamics (that is, keep cold items cold). Wabash National, a manufacturer of […]
New Trailer Orders in June 2020 Skyrocket
At the beginning of July, we wrote an article detailing some good news for the health of the trucking industry: new truck orders in June broke expectations. Following up, in comparison, new trailer sales completely shattered all expectations for that month. The Data According to Americas Commercial Transportation Research Company (ACT), U.S. trailer orders for […]
Netadryne Records 1 Billion Miles for Autonomous Research
We at TopMark Funding have written before about the obstacles stopping autonomous semi-trucks from becoming the norm. One of the largest was the problem we called “Dynamic Adaptation”: how current autonomous trucks work fine in open, well-maintained highways, but start to struggle when dealing with less optimal scenarios such as road hazards and city streets. […]
DOT Reduces Commercial Bus Regulations
Here is something we do not get to write about very often; TopMark Funding finances passenger vehicles as well as cargo vehicles.The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on July 15th that it is removing some old regulations in a cost-saving effort.“This rule will remove outdated and overly burdensome reporting requirements on commercial buses that don’t […]
Payroll Protection Program Protects Truckers
The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation has taken its toll on the trucking industry, but the federal government will not let the industry collapse without a fight. Through the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), which is part of the CARES Act, trucking companies both big and small have applied for loans to keep goods moving, loans […]
ATA Updates Trucking Industry Statistics for 2019
You might remember that at the beginning of 2020 we compiled annual reports from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) all the way back from 2003. The ATA generates a new report for the year prior in the middle of summer, and it is that time of year again: the ATA has a new report.Data AnalyticsThe […]
Operation Safe Driver Week is Self Defeating
Operation Safe Driver Week is now upon us. While law enforcement such as highway patrol and the DOT as a whole will be extra careful to track driving habits of commercial vehicles. Come the 20th of July, there is a chance we will all be back to normal levels of enforcement, as if the week […]
Operation Safe Driver Week Best Practices
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is soon upon us. Law enforcement officials are going to be extra wary of commercial vehicles on America’s roadways. To avoid a ticket, or worse, a license suspension, follow these rules to keep bears off your tail. An Ounce of Prevention The key to surviving […]
Trucking Rates Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels
We wrote about this before, how trucking levels were on the brink of being above the price per mile before the pandemic hit. Now we can finally bust out that champagne: we are now above February’s rates!Above and BeyondNow at this point you are probably thinking this is hardly a cause for celebration; February is […]
New Truck Orders in June 2020 Skyrocket
At the start of the year, we wrote an article laying out our predictions for 2020. Nobody could have predicted the wild ride 2020 has been so far, but news has broken that yet another prediction we had has turned out to not happen: new truck sales are on the rise. The Data Two studies, […]
CVSA to Start Operation Safe Driver Week July 12th
You might remember us writing about the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) delaying the International Roadcheck due to the coronavirus. The CVSA has decided to not let COVID-19 get in the way of its next event, however: Operation Safe Driver Week.Operation Safe Driver WeekThe CVSA describes the event as a time where “law enforcement agencies […]
UPS, Penske, and Others Test Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous trucks may still be a far way away from becoming the norm, but the journey of a million miles begins with one wheel rotation. A small handful of companies are working together to help lay the groundwork of making it a reality.The TeamThe companies that form this partnership of establishing an autonomous network of […]
California Issues Zero-Emissions Mandate
In a unanimous vote, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a mandate detailing what percentage of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles sold in the state have to be zero emissions for the next decade and a half. The Details The Advanced Clean Truck rule, the first of its type, sets standards for truck and chassis […]
FMCSA to Check Potential Broker Transparency Violations
On Tuesday, June 23rd, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration chief Jim Mullen said his agency is looking into potential violations regarding rate transparency among brokers. The statement comes from the FMCSA’s session at the Truckload Carrier’s Association’s Virtual Safety and Security Meeting. The event was moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic. The “Changes” We […]
FMCSA Extends CLP Training Workaround
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. The trucks are essentially the blood cells that […]
INVEST in America Act Gets Amended
You may remember that TopMark Funding wrote about the INVEST in America Act in the past. What we know now is that the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has deliberated on it further. They went through over 24 hours of debate and more than 175 different proposed amendments. The finished bill was an act […]
California AB-5 Law Somewhat Postponed
We have written about AB-5 and its federal counterpart before. The law, intended to curb workplace abuse by making it harder to classify a worker as an independent contractor, has legal issues for owner-operators hoping to work under a larger carrier such as Landstar. If this is you and you were worried about losing your […]
FMCSA Extends Pandemic License Relief
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order No. 13924,85 FR 31353 on May 19th, 2020. This directed federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to take action in fighting not just the coronavirus pandemic, but the economic damages resulting from the pandemic as well. One way the FMCSA took action was to suspend […]
Arguments for the Pandemic Ending Soon
TopMark Funding has been writing about COVID-19 for well over three months now, even before the World Health Organization (WHO) officially announced it as a pandemic. As time goes on and the general populace has stayed at home as long as it could to “flatten the curve”, the evidence seems to be piling up that […]
Trucking Industry Barely Lost Jobs in May
The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) are in: the for-hire trucking sector of the U.S. economy lost 1,200 jobs in May. Furthermore, the trucking industry total employment, 1,431,000, was the lowest it has been since November 2014. This is despite the U.S. economy as a whole gaining 2.5 million jobs. By themselves, […]
FMCSA Lengthens Drug Testing Window for Hiring
The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA), in a new step to combat the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the economy, is modifying a regulation regarding drugs. No, truckers will not be allowed to drive while smoking marijuana without being added to the Clearinghouse. The Change Normally when hiring a company driver, the company must perform […]
FMCSA Extends HOS Suspension to Mid-July
On March 13th, the Hours-of-Service suspension was to last until April 12th. It was then extended to May 15th, then June 15th, and now the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration extends it once again to July 14th. The Applicable Shipments Not all trucks on the road get the privilege of ignoring hours-of-service until the job […]
Why the INVEST in America Act Won’t Be Law
At TopMark Funding, we mostly like to report on the facts when it comes to the news and allow our readers to reach their own conclusions. The recent news about the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act may leave truckers worried about how it […]
House Democrats Introduce INVEST in America Act
How much is added flexibility to your driving workday worth to you? House Democrats on Capitol Hill unveiled the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act on Wednesday, May 3rd. The bill is 864 pages long, but the two biggest pieces that should interest truck […]
Nikola Motor Company Goes Public: Stock for Sale
With Tesla delaying the Semi for another year, it appears to be that the Nikola Motor Company (also named after electrical inventor Nikola Tesla) is the frontrunner to get a fully electric semi-truck to market. Their chances just increased immensely when they finished performing a reverse merger with VectoIQ Acquisition that will also raise at […]
Arizona DOT Updates Website; Shows Rest Areas
Truckers driving through Arizona may be relieved to hear that the Arizona Department of Transportation has updated its 511 website to include rest stops. This change details not only the locations of rest stops within the state, but also whether or not they are currently open, and the number of truck parking spots at each […]
May 2020: Two Freight Rates Fall, One Rises
The month of May resulted in some interesting phenomena for the trucking industry: usually when it comes to dry van, flatbed, and reefer hauling, the rates all change in the same direction. This has been a crazy year, which leads to some crazy changes.For May, the reefer rate average rose, most likely due to the […]
OOIDA Petitions FMCSA for Broker Transparency
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been in the news a lot lately, and the news surrounding them only gets longer as time goes on. On May 19th, the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association (OOIDA) filed a petition with the FMCSA to demand new regulations that improve broker transparency. The Problem Owner-Operators are starting […]
FMCSA Considers Expanding Amber Brake Light Exemption
When the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) authorized Groendyke Transport to use pulsating amber brake lights next to the standard red ones on tanker trucks, they probably did not expect rear-end collisions to drop over 33%. That is exactly what happened, and now safety experts at the FMCSA are deliberating on making it the […]
Texas DOT Releases Parking Study Results
The Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a study detailing their findings regarding truck parking spots, taking place over 2018 and 2019. If you travel interstate as a trucker, there is an extremely high chance you will eventually find yourself in Texas. With over a quarter-million square miles of land, the state […]
FMCSA Announces Hours-of-Service Final Rule
It might be hard to remember with the coronavirus pandemic suspension (which was recently extended another month to mid-June) that the FMCSA has been planning reform to its hours-of-service regulations. Now the final rule has been published. Despite nobody outside of the FMCSA truly knowing what was going to be in it, it turned out […]
April 2020: Freight Rates Drop Unpredictably
We at TopMark Funding have not been giving you the statistics for average freight rates lately, as we have been writing extensively about more immediate topics such as the Coronavirus. Now that it appears the pandemic is reaching the declining end of the curve, we can get back into the swing of things for normal […]
Trucker’s Guide to When Every State is Reopening
We understand business owners and drivers don’t have time to sort through all the different news coming out about COVID-19, so TopMark has made a detailed truckers guide to when each state will reopen. Updated regularly, this article will include the newest information on when each and every state plans on lifting or extending their […]
International Roadcheck Delayed Over COVID-19 Fears
It seems as though the coronavirus is undoing all of the reporting we did at the beginning of 2020. We wrote in early February that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) was going to have its annual International Roadcheck event in May, but the event has been postponed until further notice. What is the culprit […]
Pennsylvania Reopens (Some) Rest Stops
You may recall at what was hopefully the height of the coronavirus hysteria that the state of Pennsylvania made the executive decision to close all of its rest stops in the state, even for parking purposes. After pressure from the negative press for the decision, the state of Pennsylvania has decided to renege on the […]
Truck Dealers Seek “Essential Status”
On March 23rd, a coalition of automotive dealers, including the American Truck Dealers (ATD), sent a letter to President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Cabinet members, and the Governors of all fifty states asking for “essential status” for dealerships in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.The Letter to the GovernmentThe letter outlines the coalition between […]
Navistar and Paccar Halt Production
We recently wrote about how Mack and Volvo Group suspended truck production due to COVID-19 fears, now it appears that other truck builders are following in their footsteps. Recently, Paccar and Navistar International announced that they are also halting production. Both have announced two-week shutdowns, with a Paccar representative saying, “[we] will continue to provide […]
Coffee and Crashes: Limit Your Caffeine
We at Topmark Funding have already established that truckers need sleep, but what about taking caffeine as a substitute like coffee, energy drinks, and soda? After all, with the FMCSA suspending most HOS regulations, making deliveries in a timely manner calls for the use of our old friend Joe, right? You might be surprised (or […]
Mack and Volvo Suspend Truck Production
Mack Trucks and Volvo Group both announced on Friday that they were going to cease assembly operations due to the coronavirus. “We have decided to temporarily suspend production as part of the effort to slow the spread of the virus in our communities.” Mary Beth Halprin, vice president of public relations, Volvo Group, said. “During […]
FMCSA Expands Its COVID-19 Response
Recently the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced for the first time in history national suspension of certain Hours of Service regulations. This was in response to the coronavirus State of Emergency. This Wednesday on March 18th, the FMCSA has expanded the suspensions further. “Under Secretary Chao’s leadership, FMCSA is providing additional regulatory relief […]
Coronavirus Quarantine: Things to Do While Stuck at Home
So you are stuck at home, either because you have contracted coronavirus or are told to stay home by authorities. What can you do to help pass the time until this event is over? Here are some ideas to help get you started. While most of them are intended for home use, a savvy trucker […]
Coronavirus: How It Affects Truckers
Coronavirus news has been ramping up in the past month on how it affects the economy and various industries, and trucking is no different. With the World Health Organization considering COVID-19 the first worldwide pandemic since H1N1 (swine flu), it is a good idea to stay informed on the Coronavirus and how it impacts you, […]
Pennsylvania Closes Rest Stops, Even for Parking
Coronavirus hysteria continues: first it was just a warning, then it was a run on toilet paper, then it was a national emergency. Now Pennsylvania is closing its rest stops because it lacks the ability to clean them effectively in the wake of the pandemic, Effective March 17th at 12:01 AM. The absurdity of the […]
FMCSA Declares National Emergency in Response to COVID-19
Suspensions of Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are nothing new to the trucking industry, just recently there were two declared in Alabama and Tennessee. What is new is that the FMCSA has announced a nationwide suspension on HOS regulations in regards to commercial vehicle drivers hauling emergency relief across the entire country. The National Emergency […]
Mid-America Trucking Show Cancels 2020 Event
In another episode of coronavirus hysteria, Mid-America Trucking Show organizers have announced that they are cancelling the 49th annual event due to the pandemic. The announcement comes two weeks before the event was to take place, March 26th, 27th, and 28th. “It is with a heavy heart and deep regret that we announce the cancellation […]
Staying Busy During the Slow Season
From January to March (and especially February), when the holidays have passed but it is too early for produce to ripen, the trucking industry has its slow season. Here are our tips to help you survive this troubling time. Slow Season is Hiring Season Because the slow season has a low number of miles to […]
HOS Reform Sent to White House, Few Know What It Entails
If you have been following trucker news for a while now, you almost certainly have heard that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has sent paperwork regarding changing Hours of Service regulations to the White House. We at TopMark Funding have been hesitant to write an article detailing this news, because here is the […]
Coronavirus, Surprisingly, Helps Truckers Thrive
There is no denying that coronavirus (COVID-19) hysteria has swept the nation. We at Topmark Funding even wrote an article about how to keep yourself from catching and spreading coronavirus. There was a lot of uncertainty regarding how the coronavirus would impact the trucking industry in the United States of America. As time goes on, […]
Congress Debates Truck-Only VMT Tax
Trucking and the transportation industry as a whole have been a hotly-debated topic in the halls of Congress. It looks like we have another discussion on our hands: a truck-only VMT tax.What is a VMT Tax?VMT stands for “vehicle miles traveled”, so a tax on this would be a payment proportional to the miles traveled. […]
Tennessee State of Emergency Declared
In the previous month of February, Alabama was hit with flooding and a State of Emergency was declared. It seems with the new month, natural disasters are heading north to Tennessee, where a tornado hit Nashville in the first few days of March. Like with Alabama, a State of Emergency has been declared that suspends […]
Women in Trucking to Develop Driver Ambassador Program
The Women in Trucking (WIT) Association has announced plans to launch a Driver Ambassador program with various trucking businesses to raise awareness and promote career opportunities for women in trucking. WIT has partnered with Schneider National and has named Kellylynn McLaughlin, a trainer with Schneider, to be the first Driver Ambassador for WIT. “Trucking is […]
Coronavirus: What Truckers Need to Know
Chances are you are familiar with the existence of COVID-19, otherwise known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or the coronavirus. There has been lots of media hubbub about coronavirus since the start of 2020, some fact and some fiction. How worried should you be while traveling on the road? If you contract the […]
The Truth About the Trucker Shortage
If you have read any article about the transportation industry in the past few years, there is a high chance you have heard about a trucker shortage. Even the American Trucking Association (ATA) has been on record to say that there are not enough people hauling freight. “Over the past 15 years, we’ve watched the […]
Bridgestone Unveils Airless Tires for Commercial Trailers
Tires without air might not just be a luxury for push lawn mowers anymore. Bridgestone was at the 2020 Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Georgia. It announced that it was working on air-free tires for trailers. The design, shown below, is most likely patented with its unique design of […]
February 2020: Freight Rates Drop Predictably
One consistency in the trucking industry that seems to be as common as the sun rising in the east is that February is the month of the year with the lowest national average spot rates. In a way, it is refreshing to see the average rates in mid-February be only a slight drop, with just […]
FMCSA Lowers Annual Registration Fees
In a move that had truckers across the nation rejoicing, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on February 13th, 2020 that it would be lowering registration fees for motor carriers starting with registration year 2020 and continuing for the foreseeable future. Unified Carrier Registration Plan The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan is no […]
Navistar Plans to Expand Plant, Build New Powertrain
Navistar officially started progress on spending $125 million to expand its engine manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama. They held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 11th, 2020. They also hinted that they will use the new space, to build their own powertrains, cooperating with Traton Group to make this a reality.Navistar International Plant ExpansionNavistar Big Bore […]
The PRO Act: House Passes “Federal AB5” Bill
You might remember from last week that we wrote about California Assembly Bill No. 5 and its potential effects on the trucking industry as a whole. The article ended by mentioning other states following suit. Now, the House of Representatives has passed their parallel to AB5, called the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. […]
FMCSA Delays Entry-Level Driver Training Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) works hard to use the power of technology to increase transportation industry safety nationwide, but sometimes their speed of implementation falls short of expectation. The implementation of this rule has been pushed back two years from February 7th, 2020 to 2022. What is the Entry-Level Driver Training Rule? […]
The USMCA and How it Affects Truckers
Though USMCA may sound like the acronym for an offshoot of the Marine Corps, in this context it stands for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The shipping of goods between the United States, Canada, and Mexico is bound to affect the trucking industry. History of the USMCA Before we understand USMCA, we must first know the […]
WEX Fuel Card Database Hits Limit and Shuts Down
We here at TopMark Funding covered WEX fuel cards as one of the best fuel cards in the market, but it appears there is a downside to being the most popular fuel card in the country. On the night of February 4th, 2020, WEX cards were not accepted at diesel pumps across the country. Hitting […]
Congress Debates the Drive Safe Act
According to current federal law in the continental United States, a truck driver must be over the age of 21 to haul freight across state lines. With a trucker shortage hitting the United States, Congress is debating the Drive Safe Act, which would allow commercial drivers under the age of 21 to drive across state […]
California AB-5 and How it Affects the Owner-Operator
On September 19th, 2019, the governor of the most populous state in the country signed Assembly Bill No. 5 into law. It went into effect at the beginning of 2020 but has since been blocked by a federal judge as of January 16th. While originally intended to prevent worker exploitation in the new “gig economy”, […]
Mack Trucks to Reenter Medium-Duty Market with MD Series, Open New Plant in Virginia
In early 2019, Volvo Group, the parent company of Mack Trucks, started mysteriously posting job listings to hire engineers in the Salem/Roanoke area of Virginia. Volvo declined to comment about the job listings other than to say they would fulfill “future business needs”, but Jon Harris of the Morning Call predicted that Mack Trucks may […]
Trucking Rates Over Time for Dry Van, Flatbed, and Reefer Shipments
In our last article, we talked about the change in total revenue and weight hauled over time in the trucking industry. To compile that data took deep-diving into the American Trucking Associations’ article posts, years into the past. Today, we at TopMark Funding are saving even more time than before, going deep into DAT Solutions’ […]
Trucking Industry Revenue Over Time
Millions of truckers employed across America have dedicated their careers to the trucking industry, hauling freight from coast to coast. As technology and regulations change around them with scares of driver shortages and self-driving trucks, commercial truck drivers may fear that the industry will upend them and terminate their livelihoods. We at TopMark Funding are […]
FMCSA Clearinghouse
Just when you thought the FMCSA was done regulating, they toss on even more regulations. This time it’s with the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The website is loaded with information on the new database, and you really should go there if you want to obtain a full understanding of the program. For those who […]
Electric Semi-Truck Building Companies
With fuel costs being one of the largest costs in the transportation industry, diesel fuel may be approaching its decline. Companies are racing to be the first to bring about a revolution of fueling to reap the rewards. Many alternative power systems are being researched, but none has caught the public’s eye quite like electric […]
Self Driving Semi-Trucks: When?
In 2016, Uber delivered 50,000 cans of beer over 120 miles of highway without any driver intervention. But two years later, Uber closed down its self-driving semi-trucks division to focus on self-driving cars instead. The trucking profession is huge, over five percent of all American jobs are in truck transportation. When self-driving trucks progress far […]
Semi Truck Fleets Are Getting Better Fuel Efficiency
Gas prices. Few things can make you groan, like passing by a gas station and seeing that high price tag on gas. If you run a semi-truck or want to finance one, the same goes for you, but double. Big Rigs aren’t known for their fuel efficiency.A decade ago, truckers didn’t have to put much […]
7 Biggest Trucking Industry Trends For 2019
Are the current trends in the trucking industry going to change the way that you do business? Whether you like it or not, it probably will. Pausing between your day to day operations to study the current semi truck industry trends will make your day to day operations more smooth. When you’re ahead of the […]
The Trucking Industry: 7 Facts You Definitely Didn’t Know
Trucking Facts: What You Don’t Know The trucking industry is worth an estimated 7 billion dollars! It’s a huge, sprawling business. Without a doubt, there are some pieces of information and trucking facts about the industry that you haven’t heard yet. The United States is extremely dependent on the trucking industry; the truck drivers […]
Some Say the Truck Driver Shortage Doesn’t Exist
If there are 1.8 million drivers insisting there’s a truck driver shortage, it would be easily taken as fact. But what about the truck drivers looking at their huge force and saying, what shortage? But if you’ve been listening to the news, everyone else is saying that the truck driver shortage in America is […]
The Trucking Industry is Trying to Attract Unconventional Drivers
You’ve heard the news: the trucking industry is growing low on drivers. With life-long truckers nearing retiring age, the drivers in the field are starting to dwindle. Not only that, young people aren’t stepping up to replace the jobs of the retirees. Even with huge bumps in salary offered to them, the long hours […]
Uber Freight Vs. A Billion Dollar Trucking Problem
In what world do Uber and freight trucking go together in the same sentence? This one, Uber Freight. In late 2016, Uber officially announced that it was breaking into the trucking game. The Uber Freight platform allows drivers to find loads and drop them off. It basically matches carriers with shippers and streamlines a process […]
Trucking Forecasts in 2019: What to Expect
The new year has arrived and 2019 is upon us. With an eventful year behind us, it’s safe to say that the upcoming twelve months have a lot in store. What does that mean for your business in the trucking industry? Here are the Trucking Forecasts in 2019. Stay on top of the trends. That […]
Cleaner Truck Initiative: What does it mean for drivers?
EPA? Cleaner Truck Initiative? Pollution? Through all the new policies and voices, truck drivers and individuals in the transportation industry are feeling the strain of new regulations on their equipment. Poor air quality from traffic can take a toll on the health and wellness of everyone. Currently, pollution from heavy duty trucks is just one issue […]