TopMark Funding’s Yearly Roundup 2024
Another year comes to a close; a relatively hectic and interesting one for the trucking industry. Here are the biggest articles of each month, in case you need a refresher.
January
FMCSA to Increase Medical Examiner Standards
In the first month of the year, safety was on the top of truckers’ minds, as the news of the FMCSA raising its reliability standards for medical examiners was the most popular article.
The increase in standards was simply a test of reliability: if the medical examiner could not update their contact information by February 26th, they were out.
Surely truckers would not want someone who would fail such a basic task to be trusted with more important endeavors like deciding who is fit to be on the road?… Read More
February
FMCSA Posts Phishing and Fraud Alert
After the holiday season, internet fraud and scams were on the rise. To that end, the FMCSA let out an alert about phishing scams, where a bad actor would pretend to be from the FMCSA and ask you for identifiable information which could be used to “recover” your account.
The solution? The FMCSA says that if you receive any notice in your inbox that you should contact them from the website directly… Read More
March
Judge Rules Against California AB-5 Trucking Exemption
This one hurts. In March California Judge Roger Benitez ruled against a challenge to California’s AB-5 rule regarding owner-operators as independent contractors. The news is doubly sour because it is the same judge who created an injunction against it in the past.
One of the changes was the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association’s (OOIDA) arguing that it promoted purposeful discrimination against interstate commerce, while Judge Benitez said any resulting economic implications were not proven in court to be purposefully debilitating on the national level… Read More
April
First Commercial Hydrogen Fueling Station to Open in California
The most popular article of April came out on its last day, as news broke of FirstElement Fuel establishing California’s first commercial hydrogen refueling station.
As of the start of 2025, FirstElement Fuel still has plans to expand its network in the coming years… Read More
May
Colorado to Prohibit Trucks from Passing Left Lane on I-70
Colorado implemented some new rules of the road for commercial trucks in August 2024, and announced the changes early to become the biggest news topic of May.
Commercial trucks are now prohibited from driving in the leftmost lane on 53.5 miles of congested but dangerous roads along Interstate 70… Read More
June
Federal Regulators Hear About Predatory Towing
When it comes to the trucking industry, nothing unites all walks of life like the shared disdain for predatory towing practices. That rang true for readers, too, as news about the Department of Transportation holding a hearing for complaints took the top spot for the sixth month of the year.
Since then, steps have been taken at the state and federal levels to curb the phenomenon… Read More
July
FMCSA Asks Congress for Power to Penalize Broker Fraud
Currently, as it was in July, the FMCSA sets rules for what qualifies as broker requirements, but cannot enforce the rules, of which it is asking Congress for that ability was the most interesting event of July.
In the article, we also wrote that whatever changes Congress enacts would have to be signed off by the president, and that who is in office in the future may impact this policy.
Donald Trump’s position on granting the FMCSA fraud-fighting powers is unknown… Read More
August
Colorado Department of Transportation to Revise Speed Limit in Certain Areas
Interstate 70 in Colorado made headlines for the second time this year, as the state announced after a tragedy that it was revising speed limits down from 60 MPH to 55 MPH.
With the Colorado section of the I-70 being relatively windy (in both uses of the word: high winds and turns), this decision should be an easy way to save lives… Read More
September
The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act
Usually Congress and other members of government work to make things harder to do, but with the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act, the legislative branch was hoping to make the process of getting special certifications less tedious while still maintaining a high standard of difficulty to ensure only the best get to haul dangerous goods such as nuclear waste.
As of the time of writing this annual roundup, it is on the Union Calendar, so it is not dead yet!… Read More
October
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Approaches Phase Two
With the year coming close to an end in October, it was time for trucking businesses both small and large to start planning for tax season.
We updated our guide for Section 179 to fit with the 2024 updates from the IRS, so that truckers can get an effective price cut on the purchase of a new or used asset!
Aside from that annual, evergreen news about the perpetual wonders of taxes, October was also a popular month for truckers to learn about how in November, the FMCSA was updating its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to better interact with all fifty states’ licensing agencies.
A trucker with a suspended license in Rhode Island due to driving under the influence now has a harder chance of getting a CDL in Delaware… Read More
November
Trucking in the Second Era of Trump
November was during an election year, so you only get one guess as to what topic was all the rage at the time.
With Donald Trump pulling a Grover Cleveland and becoming the second president in history to have two non-consecutive terms, drivers were curious to see how things may change compared not only to Biden’s term, but Trump‘s first presidential term as well.
The two things we can almost be certain of is reduced diesel prices due to drilling and slightly less port activity due to tariffs… Read More
December
FMCSA Revokes Three ELD Registrations
The FMCSA rounded out this year with news of three Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) no longer fulfilling regulation requirements.
Trucking companies are encouraged to check the FMCSA’s listing of allowable ELDs periodically so as to avoid getting into fine territory… Read More
Conclusion
In the previous yearly summary, we asked three questions:
“Will hydrogen establish a solid foothold in the trucking space? Will speed limiters become required for all trucks? Will humans establish contact with aliens?”
The answers to these burning questions are “Sort of, with a plant being established in Oakland. Not yet. No.”
What happens next for the trucking industry in 2025 will be interesting to see due to shifting economic and political dynamics. Hydrogen got a small foothold in 2024, but will it be able to keep it as the USA ramps up domestic oil production?
Other Trucking Articles You May Like
ABOUT TOPMARK FUNDING
TopMark Funding is a top-rated semi-truck financing and trailer financing company located in Roseville, CA. We specialize in commercial trucking and heavy equipment. Our mission is to become your long-term financial partner by helping you grow your trucking business and fleet.
We’re not here for the short term, we’re on the long haul with you!
We have financing options for trailers, semi-trucks, commercial trucks, and small businesses. We have great rates, low down payments, and flexible monthly payments regardless of credit history.
Learn more about Trailer Financing.
Fill out the contact form or give us a call at (866) 627-6644. One of our truck financing specialists will contact you as soon as possible to go over your truck lease needs and learn more about you and your business financing goals.
