More hurricane news! This time, the hurricane is hitting the northeast, and some states are already declaring emergencies to be ahead of the curve, before Lee hits land as a category five hurricane.MaineMaine’s State of Emergency Declaration, which you can read on the relevant FMCSA webpage, does not directly pertain to truckers. Instead, it is […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is stepping up its game when it comes to getting more drivers on the road, but it does not want to sacrifice road safety to do so. To that end, the FMCSA is putting $44 million into grants for CDL training.DetailsThe announcement came on September 14th, 2023. You […]
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 […]
Slowly but surely, the electric vehicle revolution is coming. One of the greatest obstacles slowing it down is the need for a more robust charging infrastructure, and one subset of that problem is the repair of existing but damaged EV charging stations. To that end, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is offering state Departments of […]
If you are in the mood to watch some good old fashioned destruction, the fine folks over at the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) have you covered.DetailsOn September 10th, MoDOT set off explosives on the supports of the Rocheport Bridge, causing it to collapse. The bridge is located near Columbia, Missouri and takes the I-70 […]
We still have a long way to go before commercial vehicles become fully autonomous and remove the human driver entirely from the equation, but that is not stopping California from getting ahead of the curve by…trying to limit it? Yes, the state normally known for technological innovation is now trying to legislate autonomous trucks away […]
Hurricane Idalia is hitting the eastern seaboard, and what was once a problem for Florida is now expanding into other states. Here is what that entails for the four states below.GeorgiaGeorgia’s Declaration covers a variety of topics, which you can read on the FMCSA webpage, but what will catch the eye of truckers is the […]
Besides traffic, one of the most aggravating aspects of being a driver is the time spent waiting at facilities for the truck to load and unload. This time is often unpaid, further exacerbating the problem. The FMCSA wants to study what effects this issue plaguing the trucking industry has on safety. If they do something […]
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 […]
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is never done with its task of putting on more and more stringent regulations in pursuit of higher air quality. You might remember the diesel ban of 2042, but that is still almost two decades away from the time of this article. There is a new regulation that is […]
California is a very large state, so although we are headquartered here in Roseville, the most water we have gotten in the past month is a quarter inch at the absolute most. Compare this with the southern half of the state, which is having a bit of a crisis due to Hurricane Hilary. As such, […]
As we inch ever closer to the end of the year, savvy fleet owners know to maximize their use of Section 179 for the year to get the best possible return on investment for their assets. Though we are not tax lawyers, this article should serve as a good foothold for fleets to begin the […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), one of the leading regulators of the trucking industry, said that California’s and Washington’s rules regarding breaks did not apply to truckers. They are instead under the jurisdiction of federal regulations. This declaration happened in 2018 during the Trump Administration, and as such the current establishment is heavily […]
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 […]
California is a very beautiful state geographically, but when it comes to governmental regulation, its intense burdens can leave something to be desired for the average fleet traveling within state borders. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced that it is planning to form what it calls the Truck Regulation Advisory Committee (TRAC), which […]
Similarly to Vermont, the Bluegrass State is now suffering from an overabundance of water. Governor Jim Gray has declared a State of Emergency in direct response to these events. Details This Declaration is very different from the one in Vermont. Whereas Vermont’s Declaration was very vague about who it applied to and what it allowed […]
Here is a fact that appears to be not so well known by people on the road: speeding is a bad idea. A coalition of eleven states wants to remind drivers of that important detail, and as such on July 26th they are working together to enforce speed limits more than usual, while also hopefully […]
Bills that are introduced into Congress often die, but the good news is that they can always be tried again and again, and only have to get through once. That is the case with the Modern, Clean and Safe Trucks Act of 2023, or H.R. 1440, which is the latest attempt to get a bill […]
With a different Congress now in session, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, essentially a national version of California’s AB-5 law, is attempting to make its way through the chambers of Congress to become a law.DetailsThis will mark the third iteration of the PRO Act that we have covered. The short version is […]
It is now the dog days of summer, and you know what that means: heat and dryness for a majority of the country. Where has all of the water gone? Apparently the answer to that is Vermont, as the state is suffering from widespread flooding. Governor Phillip Scott has issued a State of Emergency regarding […]
You may remember how we have been reporting that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is placing some of the strictest truck emission regulations in the entire world. Now, CARB has reached an agreement with other truck manufacturers under the banner of the Clean Truck Partnership.DetailsMembers of the new Clean Truck Partnership include:CarbFordNavistarPACCARVolvo Group North […]
Regardless of whether you deliver specifically to a place in New Mexico or use the state as an easement to get somewhere else, it is important that you know this new information. Starting July 1st 2023, which is before the time you are reading this, truckers can be fined for traveling in the left lane […]
A little over a month ago, we wrote an article asking if automatic emergency braking (AEB) will ever become standard on heavy-duty trucks. We now have our answer, as the Department of Transportation (DOT) wants to require it on all medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles in the year 2027 and beyond.AEB and How it WorksSimply put, […]
The Lone Star State and its northeastern neighbor are declaring States of Emergencies in direct response to hectic weather the two states have been having recently.TexasIn response to severe weather conditions and signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 17th, the Texas Declaration is extremely vague in its wording. You can read the Declaration on […]
As of the time of writing, Julie Su is going through the nomination process to become the Secretary of the Department of Labor, where she will lead numerous faucets of government such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Her nomination has been a tumultuous one, with many trucking industry organizations voicing dissent against making her […]
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced on Friday, June 23rd that the I-95 bridge that had collapsed earlier this month was now open once again for drivers to travel across.DetailsThis is not to say that the road work is complete by any stretch of the imagination, rather, temporary bridge crossings that span three lanes each way […]
You may remember a little under a month ago when we wrote about a Bill that passed both halls of Congress. In that article, we said:“Because of how our system of government works, Joe Biden may opt to veto the bill instead of signing it, which is what he threatened to do should the vote […]
There are numerous answers as to how long the repair of the I-95 bridge in Philadelphia will take, but the construction has begun. To help keep the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) accountable, they have set up a livestream of the construction project.DetailsThe way YouTube is set up for live streaming is that it turns […]
It has been a while since there has been a State of Emergency anywhere in the country that trucking could help with, as things seemed to be moving smoothly throughout the nation. That has finally changed, however, as Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota, has declared a State of Emergency regarding the dearth of fuel […]
If you have been following trucking news as of late, you may be familiar with the strict emission regulations that California is planning to implement on the trucking industry. For those who are out of the loop, the short version is that all trucks sold in 2036 must be zero emission, and by 2042 it […]
The latest news in the transportation sector as a whole is the I-95 bridge collapse that happened as a result of a fire from an ignited tanker truck. The Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg was on the scene momentarily afterwards to assess the damage. Details Buttigieg gave a speech at the site on June 13th, […]
On Wednesday June 5th, the California State Assembly passed legislation in a vote that, should it become law, prohibit vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds from lacking a human driver in the front seat. Now, it goes to the California Senate.DetailsThe reason for the two bans is twofold.The first is that the state does not […]
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 […]
Usually when there is a Brake Safety Day coming up from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), there is ample time of warning for when it is going to occur. Not this time! To make sure drivers are keeping their vehicles in shape at all times, the CVSA has decided to shake things up by […]
When it comes to the war on truck parking, some non-drivers are much more interested in just sweeping the problem under the rug. After all, out of sight, out of mind, right? The St. Paul City Council has voted seven to zero in favor of banning truck parking within city limits.DetailsThe ordinance forbids truck parking […]
We at TopMark Funding love a good truck parking story, and here is the latest one: The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure passed on May 23rd a bill called the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act that will enable $755 million in funding for the foundation of more public truck parking spots across the country.The […]
On Tuesday May 23rd, the House of Representatives voted 221 to 203 in favor of revoking the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently listed Heavy Duty Truck Rule. With the Senate recently voting similarly, albeit with a slimmer majority, it now goes across Joe Biden’s desk.DetailsRecently, the EPA has listed two standards, one for 2027 and another […]
We have written about some of the contents of the SHIP-IT Act before, namely the tax incentives that are intended to boost the total number of truckers on the road. One other inclusion in the SHIP-IT Act is the testing of an increase on the weight limit that a big rig is allowed to be, […]
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) […]
Are you familiar with the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program, which enables drivers aged 18 to 20 to haul freight across state lines? If so, you may be surprised (or not so surprised) to find out that it has been a failure.The program was capped at 3,000 drivers, but currently only has about ten. […]
If you have watched television in the last decade or so, there is a pretty good chance you have seen a commercial regarding automatic emergency brakes (AEB) in 4-wheel cars.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fAGGlVhRUkYou may even have the feature in your own car. Is it possible that it will become a standard requirement on heavy-duty trucks? All indicators point […]
When it comes to speed limiters, it is the same old song and dance. Regulators from the executive branch of the United States government want them, and industry stakeholders hate them. A new bill introduced into a Committee in Congress may cause the legislative branch to exert some power on its brother.DetailsThe Deregulating Restrictions on […]
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 […]
Federal regulators are trying their hardest to get Americans to eventually switch away from fossil fuels such as petroleum, but that does not mean they do not need it now. Both of the states Nebraska and North Dakota are suffering from fuel shortages at the current moment, and to that extent both governors are issuing […]
No, this does not mean that you will be required to cite the hours-of-service regulations from memory. Instead, it is about drug tests and the methods by which the Department of Transportation (DOT) performs them.DetailsThe DOT has filed a Final Rule in the Federal Register saying that it will use “oral fluid” as a means […]
Go big or go home, right?We have written before about how the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced plans to require half of new trucks to be fully electric when 2035 comes around, but recent changes make that ambitious benchmark appear tame in comparison.DetailsNow, CARB has voted unanimously in favor of stricter regulations.By 2036, all […]
There is an old adage that says April is the wettest month of the year. While that is not actually the case (that title goes to June), it seems to be the case for some sections of Florida this year.If you have watched the television news as of late, there is a good chance you […]
We have talked at great lengths about the attempts of the government, both federal and state such as California, to make the commercial transportation industry cleaner. Sometimes it involves the ban of sale of specific engines while allowing their use, but other times it is banning use altogether. There is one method left that the […]
The trucking industry is no stranger to being a scapegoat for pollution, what with the stereotype of the big diesel truck shooting out plumes of smoke with every tire rotation, so the Biden-Harris administration is both taking drastic steps itself to curb emissions, while also authorizing states such as California to go even further beyond. […]
It is almost hard to believe that the last time we covered the topic of side underbody guards for trailers was around two years ago, but it has come up in the news again! When the effort to require them did not make it through the halls of Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association […]
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is once again asking truckers for their opinions, this time on a more controversial topic: the use of legalized marijuana while having a trucking career. Details The survey is not asking if drivers should be allowed to drive while under the influence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the compound in marijuana […]
At first glance, this article may seem like deja vu. After all, the EPA’s established truck standards for 2027 and California’s electric truck mandate for 2035 have been recent topics in the news. But what if you live in the other 49 states and want to prepare even further ahead than merely four years? The […]
When a four-wheel driver decides to do a brake check on a big rig just for fun, and it leads to something catastrophic, it does not impact the carrier’s ranking in the CSA Safety Measurement System. This is because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) only wants to penalize drivers who find themselves in […]
Nobody becomes a trucker to sit around and twiddle their thumbs while they wait for other people to get moving, so why is detention time so widespread amongst the trucking industry? That is a question the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is hoping to tackle by first conducting a study.DetailsThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs […]
California, for better or worse, is always on the cutting edge of green technology in the trucking industry, but is it possible that it has gone too far this time with a new mandate that will require at least half of all new trucks sold in the state by 2035 to be fully electric?DetailsThe Biden […]
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 […]
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 […]
It seems as though it was just yesterday when we wrote about the simplification of the permit process for commercial vehicles in the great state of Iowa. In the conclusion for that article, we wrote: “With the Hawkeye State working to expedite the process of providing relief during emergencies, it raises the question as to […]
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 […]
Does this story sound familiar? Last year, we wrote about how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had plans to reduce Unified Carrier Register (UCR) fees for 2023. Now, it looks like they are going to do it again.DetailsThe UCR, a system where fees are collected from and given to 41 member states, has […]
Commercial vehicles play a vital role in various industries, from transportation and logistics to construction and public transit. To better understand the diverse range of commercial vehicles and their specific functions, it’s essential to familiarize oneself with their classification systems. In the United States, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) classifies commercial vehicles into eight distinct […]
In many ways, TopMark Funding’s home state of California is ahead of the curve, such as with stringent engine bans. However, there is one area of interest that California is lagging behind upon when compared to other states such as Arizona and Texas, and that is that it currently forbids the testing of larger vehicles.DetailsThe […]
TopMark Funding is located in Roseville, California. We are a few miles northeast of Sacramento, and most consider Roseville to be part of the “Greater Sacramento Area”, despite being in Placer County. The winter storms that had been declared in thirteen counties earlier have expanded into twenty-one more, and as such Governor Gavin Newsom is […]
By the time the Internet publishes this article, two rest areas in Missouri, southbound I-29 near Dearborn and I-35 near Lathrop, will be closed for around seven months. This will put more pressure on the truck parking problem in the Show-me State, but not for long, as the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is planning […]
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 […]
The Green Truck Summit kickstarted the NTEA Truck Work Week event in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 7th. At the event, industry stakeholders came together to discuss potential ideas for the truck fuel of the future and their various viabilities.Industry InfrastructurePerhaps the most notable speaker at the event was Andrew Wrobel, director of auto and mobility […]
TopMark Funding’s home state of California has a state sales tax of 7.25%, the highest in the nation for consumers wanting to upgrade to the next highest size of flatscreen television. But even the highest standard sales tax rate pales in comparison to the Federal Excise Tax (FET), a 12% levy put in place to […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is the system by which the federal government tracks commercial drivers’ use of mind-altering drugs, and, should their licenses be revoked, how far along in the steps the driver is in being able to return to service. However, there was a loophole that a […]
In January, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency regarding widespread winter storms. Anyone living in the most populous state in the nation right now would agree that the downpour, after a short break, has continued. As such, another State of Emergency has been declared in the Golden State. Details You can read […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is revising its rules regarding hours-of-service (HoS) violations that lead to out-of-service (OoS) declarations. In doing this, the CVSA hopes to allow more truckers on the road without compromising safety.Cooking the BooksDriving beyond the standard HoS does not normally lead to an OoS violation, it is the proven act […]
When Robin Hutcheson was promoted from Deputy Administrator to the top of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there was a vacancy for the Deputy position. The USDOT has found the person for the role: a man named Earl Adams Jr.The Experience of Earl Adams Jr.Normally, the Deputy Administrator position does not need a […]
A lot of transportation and infrastructure red tape requires the use of American-made products when it comes to serving the public good. The logic makes sense, as the roads and railways are for Americans and ought to be made by Americans. However, this process takes time, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is suspending the […]
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 […]
Remember when we talked about the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards regarding trucks in model years 2027 and beyond? Well now there are senators seeking to overturn the rulings. EPA Rule Details and Opposition As a quick reminder, some of the changes for 2027 models and beyond include: Warranties for trucks must be increased from […]
Is it just us, or is this winter colder than most? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) seems to agree, as it is extending a State of Emergency for eight states in the hauling of various fuels.DetailsThe first Declaration was in direct response to the Suncor refinery in Colorado having an unexpected shutdown, leading […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The people working in our federal government are fully aware of supply chain issues that have been plaguing the nation for roughly a year now, and understand the key to greasing the wheels of the economy involves the United States trucker. Two Representatives, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota and Jim Costa of California, have reached […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering increasing the amount of readily-available assets (mostly cash) that a broker must have on hand to pay fleets who have completed deliveries for them, as written on a proposal in the Federal Register. Details The way things are now, a broker is required to keep $75,000 in […]
Loyal readers may remember what we had written about in the past, how California was experiencing intense drought and how the federal government may want to install a pipeline that can distribute water from where it is flooding to where it is dry. That will not be needed anymore. California is experiencing intense downpour to […]
Happy New Year everyone! New Year’s day typically entails lots of partying, friends, and the start of new laws because it is convenient.The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced an update to a rule regarding the ban of older engines, due to their disproportionate emissions. As of January 1st, it is now illegal to drive […]
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, […]
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its most recent final rule regarding regulations for heavy-duty trucks. The entire document is over 1,100 pages long. Would you be willing to settle for an abridged version?DetailsHere are just a few of the regulations for the 2027 model year:Reduced tailpipe NOx limits to a level 80%-plus below […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that if current winter storms are any indicator of what is to come, the start of 2023 is going to be a time of great cold. As such, the FMCSA is giving hours-of-service exemptions to haulers providing heating oil, such as propane and natural gas, to numerous […]
On December 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 […]
What do you get when you ask truckers for help but also provide additional stipulations for them to do their jobs? You get a mess. This is what is happening in the state of New York, as the state government has declared both a State of Emergency and road closures for commercial vehicles. State of […]
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 […]
California is known for having some of the strictest trucking regulations in the country. While usually the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is satisfied with banning older year models of commercial vehicles as time marches on, they are proposing perhaps the greatest shift they have ever done: all fleets headquartered in California must be fully […]
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 […]
The trucking industry is ever-changing and the history of trucking is very extensive. What is even more extensive, is the recent influx in regulations pertaining to trucking and overall transportation. We’ve hand-crafted a list of the most influential and relevant regulations to the trucking industry. Some you may be familiar with, and some you may […]
The Department of Transportation’s latest Significant Rulemaking Report shows various actions it wants to implement in governing safety on the road. Speed Limiters on the Table The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to continue considering applying speed limiters to trucks with electronic control units. FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson knows how grossly unpopular the […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), traffic fatalities in 2021 were estimated to be around 43,000, which is a 10.5% increase from an already high prior year. This news has led to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to tweet about how safety standards on the road should be closer to […]
Thirty-one months to flatten the curve. In our last update regarding the coronavirus State of Emergency from the FMCSA, we talked about how the change in pace from the exemption being renewed every ninety days to every forty-five days could mean the Declaration may be on its last legs. It appears that that rings true, […]
The water distribution problem continues. As recovery from Hurricane Ian happens in the easternmost states, other states are suffering from a lack of water. The latest to join the trend is Oklahoma, upon which the governor has declared a State of Emergency.Hey, Hay!The typical Declaration is all about hours-of-service exemptions provided the driver does not […]
Truckers traveling through Georgia, including if they are hauling relief supplies related to Hurricane Ian, might want to plan their route further ahead, as the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is closing lanes on the I-285 within the greater Atlanta area for numerous months.DetailsMaintaining infrastructure to avoid catastrophe is important. Doing so, however, has a […]
There appears to always be some weather phenomenon going on somewhere in the fifty states that comprise this country. This time, the topic of interest is Hurricane Ian, the second major hurricane of this year’s hurricane season. In response to it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a State of Emergency to […]
Tropical Depression Nine was spotted approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Florida on September 23rd, 2022, and the Sunshine State is expecting it to brush up against its shores. In a direct proactive response, Governor Ron DeSantis is issuing a State of Emergency that is fourteen sections long and is far longer than any typical Declaration […]
Truckers traveling along I-95 and other highways through Rhode Island have been paying tolls targeted towards them since 2018, but the U.S. District Court says that this must go on no longer.DetailsSince RhodeWork’s initial planning in 2015 the state has implemented twelve toll booth locations, with a thirteenth along the way had the U.S. District […]
Months after it was first put into motion, the Senate vote for Robin Hutcheson to become the first FMCSA Administrator since October 2019 has completed. Robin Hutcheson is now the FMCSA Administrator.DetailsIt has been almost three years since Ray Martinez left the position in October 2019. Since then, numerous Acting Administrators have held down the […]
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 […]
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 […]
While the State of Emergency regarding hours-of-service and COVID-19 has been extended only forty-five days, its sister declaration regarding the handling of Commercial Learner’s Permits (CPLs) has been extended the typical ninety days.DetailsUnder normal circumstances, a CLP driver needs to have a driver with a CDL riding shotgun for the duration of training. With coronavirus […]
“Women are significantly underrepresented in the trucking industry, holding only 24 percent of all transportation jobs,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson once said in a statement. The Biden-Harris administration is interested in making the industry more representative of the population as a whole, and is founding the Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB).DetailsWOTAB’s inaugural committee […]
The day has finally come.The federal district court that initially placed the injunction against California Assembly Bill 5 for trucking, at the behest of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, has removed that injunction as of August 29th. The California Trucking Association is not giving up!Timeline of EventsCalifornia’s Assembly Bill 5 became law at the […]
In a period of excessive inflation, this news is sure to bring a smile to any fleet owner’s face.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced via the Federal Register that it would reduce the United Carrier Registration fees by an average of 31% for 2023 and beyond.DetailsThe price cuts are as follows:0-2 vehicles: $59 to […]
The United States is suffering from a water distribution problem this summer: while the west coast cannot get enough water, the east coast is experiencing torrential downpour. As of the start of September seven states are undergoing States of Emergencies regarding water, be it a dearth or an abundance.AlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the […]
We were hoping on August 31st, the last day of the previous extension, that it would be the last. In the final hours, however, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the Declaration another 45 days. This is the first time that the regulatory body has extended it by this period of time, usually […]
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 […]
On August 24th, the BP Whiting refinery suffered a fire and for the time being is shut down for safety reasons. It is one of the largest refineries in the United States, processing around 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day. As a result of its closure, there is a shortage of various fuels in […]
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 […]
The Inflation Reduction Act has been passed across party lines (51-50 in the Senate, 220-207 in the House of Representatives), and was signed by Joseph Biden when it came across his desk. How is it going to impact the nation’s truckers?Fast Forward on Green EnergyThe most notable change that the signed law has on the […]
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 […]
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 […]
In today’s world, the news moves quickly. We reported recently about how the AB-5 protests in the port of Oakland, Long Beach, and Los Angeles were subject to blockage due to protests against California’s Assembly Bill 5, which would outlaw the owner-operator model except under specific circumstances. At this point in time, however, things have […]
If you have taken a step outside in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that it is blisteringly hot outside. The Northern Hemisphere is suffering a massive heatwave.One of the common side effects for a heatwave is the drying out of vegetation, both alive and dead, increasing the risk of fire hazards. This […]
Do you consider the idea of a truck driver under the age of 21 able to drive from Redding, California to San Diego to be okay, but traveling from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas as unsafe to be an absurd notion? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is inclined to agree, and is […]
Truckers helping truckers!On July 15, 2022, Jim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, issued a declaration suspending the hours-of-service regulations in regards to the hauling of various petroleum-based fuels.DetailsThe entire problem is a logistics Catch-22, as truckers needing to haul fuels such as diesel and gasoline need diesel to haul them. Governor Walz hopes that by […]
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 […]
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 […]
With the United States Supreme Court declining to hear CTA v. Becerra, the AB-5 law is expected to apply to truckers within California imminently. Aside from passing all three sections of the ABC test, there is another, lesser known exemption to the AB-5 rule that may allow California truckers to continue operating under the Authority […]
Rear impact guards are an important component of truck safety, and while essentially all trailers have them, they are not all created equally. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a final rule to raise the minimum safety standards.DetailsThe published final rule is 107 pages long, but in a very abridged version, it increases […]
The Supreme Court has announced in an end-of-term orders list that it will not be reviewing CTA v. Becerra, making the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals verdict the official law of California.DetailsJudge Roger Benitez issued an injunction against the AB-5 law roughly two years ago, saying that the AB-5 law, when placed on the trucking […]
Rev up those engines, truckers! Montana needs our help in providing relief from flooding.DetailsOn June 10th, the National Weather Services announced a Flood Watch for Montana. The National Weather Services was right to issue that statement, as some counties in the Treasure State experienced four inches of rain in that single day. Acting Governor Kristen […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
If you have been following the news at all, there is a good chance you have heard about the baby formula shortage going on in the United States. On May 18th, Joe Biden announced his plan to use the Defense Production Act to leverage governmental powers to get more baby formula produced. One such example […]
North Dakota is having issues with extremely cold weather within its borders. As a result, Governor Doug Burgum has declared a State of Emergency to help save North Dakota’s agricultural industry.DetailsThe Declaration is not unlike a similar one performed by Florida three months ago to save its agricultural commodities, except whereas Florida grows citrus fruits, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency exemptions numerous times, but this specific instance of touching it is a unique one. While the Declaration is being modified to include new items to be hauled under it, it is not being extended, for the time being.DetailsOn May 13th, Robin […]
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 […]
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced that a State of Emergency exists within the Bluegrass State, and is lifting trucking regulations regarding just that to provide aid to needy citizens.DetailsThe declaration cites a need due to:TornadoesSevere thunderstormsFlash floodsDamaging windsAs a direct result of the nasty weather, the governor is suspending some hours-of-service regulations and regulations […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. Details The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment […]
This has been an ongoing news event, but recent happenings warrant being known. The Texas government on March 18th issued a State of Emergency regarding wildfires in eleven counties. Now, that number has expanded to fifteen counties. Here is how truckers are affected.DetailsThe latest declaration casts a wide net over regulation within the state of […]
S.3806, the Hydrogen for Trucks Act, has been introduced into the United States Senate, with a similarly-named bill, H.R.7064, being introduced into the House of Representatives. Here is what the twin bills becoming law would detail.DetailsCongress’ official website has the wording for both bills on the appropriate webpages, for the House of Representatives and the […]
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 […]
We have been reporting so much on coronavirus these past two years, it is almost a sight for sore eyes to hear about another public health crisis!Now that the shock of a different pathogenic disease as the center of attention has passed, Iowa has declared a State of Emergency within its state borders to help […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nothing breaks regulation up quite like desperate times.
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 […]
Soon, a new rule will go into effect to improve entry-level driver training (ELDT). Here are the things you should know about this program so that you do not get blindsided by changes happening in the trucking industry.1. It parallels obtaining a standard driver’s license.Like obtaining a normal driver’s license for a 4-wheeler, the new […]
Infrastructure spending is perhaps the one form of government spending that all aisles can agree to. With billions upon billions of people and items needing to travel from point A to point B, infrastructure investment certainly pays dividends. Now, the federal government is allocating tons of money for bridges, in what the United States Department […]
The position of Acting Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been traded off like a hot potato for the past few years. Whether it is a change in leadership from the Department of Transportation or the resignation of the Administrator moving to greener pastures, the slot is having a hard time […]
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 […]
The United States Supreme Court declared on January 13th that a stay on the vaccine mandate prevails, making the requirement for businesses with 100 or more employees to have their employees vaccinated or undergo weekly coronavirus testing unenforceable.DetailsThe Court ruled 6-3.“Although Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The blockage at the twin California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles is slowly clearing up, but it could be done a lot faster. One such cog jammer is the Clean Air Action Plan, a joint effort by both ports to reduce emissions. A noble goal, considering the smog density in the Los Angeles […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
