The ARTBA’s 2021 Bridge Conditions Report shows that more than one-third, or 220,000, of the nation’s 618,000 bridges need structural repair, rehabilitation work or replacement.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 7, 2021
The shortage of UK truck drivers, called HGV for “heavy goods vehicle” drivers, has gotten to the point where wholesalers and retailers are calling for the army to mobilize to alleviate the shortage.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 28, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, the city of Minneapolis has begun the process of banning large trucks from parking within the city limits, and Women in Trucking announces its Member of the Month for June.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 25, 2021
In a terse one-paragraph order on Monday the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit shot down yet one more appeal by the California Trucking Association to try to halt California’s anti-trucking, independent contractor law from going into effect.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 23, 2021
Results of an American Transportation Research Institute survey of truck parking availability systems in use by truckers points to the need for more accurate systems and the standardization of these systems across state lines.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 16, 2021
Canadian news media is celebrating the arrival of the June 12 deadline for all commercial trucks traveling between Canadian provinces to be equipped with electronic logging devices. However, the reality for the Canadian trucking industry is that the impact of the June 12 deadline for ELD compliance was barely noticeable – hardly even qualifying as a “soft” deadline.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 14, 2021
The California Trucking Association, almost alone in its fight to preserve the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of California’s independent truckers, hopes to earn an AB5 appeal hearing in front of the entire slate of judges presiding over the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 9, 2021
The United States House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released details about its newly introduced surface transportation reauthorization bill, known as the “Invest in America Act.” And, not surprisingly, lines are being drawn within the trucking industry among the usual players on both sides of the issue.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 7, 2021
In trying to understand the dynamics of the driver-shortage, driver-recruitment, driver-retention paradigm a survey conducted by the Conversion Interactive Agency and Professional Driver Agency went right to the source -- they took a survey of commercial drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 31, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, a bill is introduced in the House to mandate speed limiters for large trucks, ATRI announces this year's research priorities, and a shortages of pallets adds to supply chain woes.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 28, 2021
Details of the re-introduced Insurance Act bill that proposes increasing the minimum insurance requirement for commercial trucks to nearly $5 million are not available, but the bill is drawing a considerable amount of comments on both sides of the issue.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 19, 2021
Speaking before the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation last week, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said the pressures on the supply chain are “fast approaching crisis levels,” and that Congress needs to take immediate action to “ensure our economic recovery is not derailed by further disruptions.”
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 17, 2021
Several of the biggest names in the American trucking industry have signed up ahead of time to receive TuSimple’s first rollout of its Level 4 self-driving International LT Series trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 12, 2021
In searching for “what’s news” for our mid-week Trucking Truth news article it was hard to miss the number of headlines about the truck driver shortage that dominate today’s media. And, it’s remarkable because the headlines aren’t coming from the usual truck industry media sources. It appears the rest of the nation is catching on to how important truck drivers are to the economy and what the consequences are when there aren’t enough drivers to man the big rigs that deliver consumer goods.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 5, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul the FMCSA makes push for ADAS awareness, trucking in Fiji curing COVID, looming gas shortage due to lack of tank drivers, and California's AB 5 becomes law with removal of injunction protecting truckers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 30, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul what happened to Samsung's Safety Truck, another attempt to increase insurance minimums, and North Dakota to begin giving COVID shots to Canadian truckers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 23, 2021
The lack of truck parking is a hot topic these days, with most solutions revolving around inducing government to allocate funding to build new parking spots. But advocates for more and safer truck parking are finding a new ally in an organization representing members who have an excess of empty parking spots that could be converted to truck use.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 14, 2021
While the ELD mandate's efficacy in improving safety by preventing commercial drivers from fudging the entries in their paper log books is still a controversial subject, what is dead certain is that the law of unintended consequences went into effect forcing more drivers than ever before to seek parking, often in unsafe locations without services.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 12, 2021
It's spotted lanternfly season again, and ag officials believe this one is going to be whopper. Pennsylvania now has 34 counties officially in the state's spotted lanternfly quarantine zone, and officials are urging travelers to be extra cautious because of an expected larger hatch this spring.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 7, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul, Embark signs MOU with Arizona Department of Transportation, proposed bill would allow more HOS flexibility for livestock and ag haulers, and a U.S. Senate committee hears about the truck parking crisis.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 26, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul and innovative wing design saves significant fuel, huge cost of a proposed vehicle miles traveled tax, and states looking at amending left-lane laws.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 19, 2021
Texas State Legislatures have introduced House Bill 19 and companion Senate Bill 207 that they hope would put an end to nuclear verdicts against trucking companies that were not at fault. The gist of the bill is that plaintiffs in crashes involving commercial carriers in Texas would have to prove the carrier was grossly negligent in order to extract a large verdict from them as the result of a trial.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 17, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul U.S. Xpress pushes for $2 million minimum insurance, the ATA applauds introduction of the DRIVE Safe act to put under-21 drivers into interstate commerce, and illegals stream across the border in semi trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 12, 2021
Introduced by U.S. Rep Robert Cortez Scott (D-Virginia), H.R. 842 builds on California's AB 5 in order to institute the ABC test for all companies across the United States that hire gig workers and independent contractors. Some 212 representatives have signed on as co-sponsors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 10, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul travel centers throughout the mid-west and south experience closures and outages due to the severe winter storm, President Trump's trucker-friendly apprenticeship program shut down, and EPA steps up efforts to end diesel emissions tampering.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 19, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul truckers can now take training in how to stay safe during protests, new administration means dark days ahead for small carriers, and two mega carriers invest in TuSimple's autonomous truck programs.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 22, 2021
In their seemingly never-ending march down the road to cripple the state's economy California regulators are proposing a new rule to make warehouse owners and operators responsible for the exhaust emitted by the trucks that service the warehouses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 20, 2021
In this Friday Short Haul North Dakota proposes an 80 mph speed limit, FMCSA announces its 2021 advisory committees, and a Sixth Circuit Court opinion slashes a truck crash lawsuit attorney's argument.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 15, 2021
In a 38-page report released Friday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office the conclusion was that the U.S. Department of Transportation and its three main administrations do not have the skilled staff necessary to oversee the growing automation technology that is taking place in the trucking industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 21, 2020
In reaction to the latest news about an alleged new outbreak of the COVID-19 virus the Centers for Disease Control has released new guidelines specifically for truck drivers and their carrier employers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 23, 2020
Today, November 11, Veterans Day, is the day that a trucker strike group has chosen for a trial run national shutdown called StopTheTires2020 in protest of presidential candidate Joe Biden's Green New Deal platform; which would eliminate fracking, thus raising fuel prices.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 11, 2020
While the rest of the world awaits a final count of legal, legitimate votes in several battleground states that will determine who occupies the White House for the next four years the results are in that California voters handily gave the California State Legislature a beat-down with passage of Proposition 22.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 9, 2020
In most, if not virtually all, online listings for the top 10 or top 25 most unsafe roads in America the I-10 corridor across the southern states makes the list … sometimes even coming out at the top or near the top. Of interest to truckers, as well, is the lack of truck parking along the long stretches of desert landscapes which constitute the Western states portions of the Interstate.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 2, 2020
The driver shortage, driver compensation, and truck parking ranked in the top three concerns among drivers, carriers and other trucking industry stakeholders in the just-released American Transportation Research Institute's survey titled "Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry – 2020."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 28, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Volvo receives nearly $22 million grant to provide electric semis, EPA fines carriers for California emissions violations, and Pennsylvania upgrades its Steer Clear law to a Move Over law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 23, 2020
One question that drivers should be constantly asking … even long before a lawsuit situation develops, after an accident for example … is what am I doing now that is going to be used against me big time if I am sued?"
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 5, 2020
A major new player has joined the independent contractor fray that was created when California legislators passed Assembly Bill 5 last year mandating a strict definition of employee-contractor status that virtually eliminated independent contractor work for huge segments of the economy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 23, 2020
While we await the compilation of results from International Road Check, which ran from September 9 to September 11 this year, it might be instructive to review the recently released results of Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's Operation Safe Driver Week that was conducted earlier this summer.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 16, 2020
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on Friday a State Assembly bill that carves out more exemptions to Assembly Bill 5, commonly known as the independent contractor law, that went into effect this year. Unfortunately for California trucking companies and contract drivers, however, the changes brought by Assembly Bill 2257 do not help California independent contractor drivers, but instead double down on keeping them under the original AB 5 enforcement umbrella.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 7, 2020
The importance of this year's general election to the nation's health -- in many regards -- cannot be overstated. But, as drivers and others with a stake in the trucking industry we should recognize that there are also some dramatic implications for the transportation sector as well.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 26, 2020
Several participants in a truck-accident insurance scheme that made the New Orleans area notorious for the scam have pleaded guilty – including the man that has been dubbed in news reports as the ringleader of the group.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 24, 2020
The state of Pennsylvania reports nearly a 500 percent increase in spotted lanternfly sightings, and has announced it has added two new counties to its quarantine list.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, August 10, 2020
As yet another response to the Federal Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act passed in 2015 the State of California has published a massive document to update the state's freight planning. Titled, "California Freight Mobility Plan 2020," the 326-page document was released by the California State Transportation Agency, known as Caltrans, to comply with a FAST Act requirement for states to provide state freight plans and update them every five years to be able to qualify for National Highway Freight program funding.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 27, 2020
In reaction to the COVID-19 virus, FMCSA is hosting its Trucking Safety Summit in August and making it available as a virtual meeting, free and open to anybody who wishes to register and participate via a digital device.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 22, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states sign a memorandum to push for electric semis, carriers find a smaller pool of student new hires, and troopers ride with truckers to spot unsafe drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 17, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul July 12-18 is set for inspection blitz, truck drivers must give contact info at Canadian border crossings, and Hyundai ships first 10 fuel cell trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 10, 2020
TuSimple, an early autonomous Class 8 innovator, has leapfrogged all the other autonomous truck innovators by announcing on July 1 the launching of what they call "the world's first Autonomous Freight Network."
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 6, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, the suspence comes to an end as the House passes the Moving Forward Act, YRC Worldwide gets a huge government bailout, and trucking jobs are coming back.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 3, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Convoy steps up its game to capture more freight business, FMCSA extends CLP waiver, the $2 million minimum insurance coverage amendment is passed, and CDL examiner and trucking school owner are sentenced for CDL fraud conspiracy.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 26, 2020
"Nuclear" verdicts, monetary awards against trucking firms that are $1 million to $10 million or greater, have been making the news lately, and that's why the American Transportation Research Institute underwent an extensive study to quantify the number and size of awards, and to find out why the litigation landscape has changed so much to bring about these verdicts.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 24, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul - Speeds return to normal post-virus, Congress mulls a $2 million minimum for truckers' insurance, and Women in Trucking looking to honor an influential woman.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 19, 2020
A vast majority of drivers responding to a CDL Life poll stomped down hard on the brakes and declared they will not enter cities that have defunded their police departments.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 15, 2020
Two citizen-driven measures are working their way through legal channels that would give California voters the chance to thwart the will of state legislators in their desire to throttle California's gig and independent contractor economy by enforcing the recently enacted AB 5, the independent contractor law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 8, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the driver shortage appears to be over - for now, Amazon announces its freight brokerage is going nationwide, and lawyers are learning how to extract "nuclear" verdicts from carriers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 29, 2020
As the nation rebounds from the near-catastrophic, economy-killing, over-reaction to the COVID-19 virus, trucking industry leaders are beginning to look toward the future of the industry the rest of this year, and into the years to come.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 27, 2020
The time for completely unattended autonomous freight hauling via Class 8 trucks is still somewhere down the road, but because self-driving vehicle innovators are stuck with regulations requiring a "driver" (and sometimes an engineer as well) to accompany the vehicles on each trip they are beginning to ask for hours of service exemptions for those attendees.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 25, 2020
In early November 2016, on the eve of when voters nationwide would be deciding on investments in transportation and infrastructure, film makers Jennifer Clymer and Marijane Miller debuted the screening of a trucking documentary that they hoped would help influence infrastructure funding.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 18, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul the FDA offers guidelines in cleaning and disinfecting reefers that were used as temporary COVID-19 morgues, ATRI announces 2020 research priorities, and FMCSA extends again the HOS emergency declaration.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 15, 2020
As reported recently in a Trucking Truth news article freight brokers are taking the brunt of truck drivers' anger at dramatically declining rates, but now brokers are pushing back against the accusation that they are price-gouging those drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 11, 2020
As the commercial truck transportation industry settles into its COVID-19 virus era new way of doing business the American Transportation Research Institute and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association Foundation have released the results of a survey from the industry on how the reaction to the pandemic has affected them.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 6, 2020
WorkHound, an online platform for drivers to anonymously provide feedback to their companies, has released its latest analysis of driver comments regarding the COVID-19 crisis. The study analyses comments from drivers in the April 1, 2020, through April 15, 2020, period, and has noted some significant changes in drivers' perceptions about the virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 29, 2020
In the wake of states' efforts to keep an adequate flow of virus-related essential materials moving along America's highways by granting temporary waivers on weight limits, an organization that opposes bigger trucks has written a letter to the nation's state governors reminding them to return to normal weight limits once the crisis is over.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 27, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul truckers meet at White House for heroes reception, California state senator tries to undo AB5, and TA furloughs more than 3,000 employees.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 24, 2020
Truckers have been getting a lot of love lately, but the industry is becoming concerned about the long-term effect of the reaction to the COVID-19 virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 20, 2020
At a time when the public's awareness of the importance of the trucking industry in general, and truck drivers in particular, is at an all-time high because of the COVID-19 virus crisis, at least one industry leader has found an irony in the situation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 15, 2020
Just days after a coalition representing commercial drivers licensing schools, trucking companies and shippers sent a letter to federal and state officials trying to persuade them to keep state drivers license agencies open the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced it would temporarily allow CDL skills test examiners to also administer the written CDL tests.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 13, 2020
To forestall the cutting off of the vital supply chain of new drivers the nation's largest association of commercial driving schools has led a coalition of major corporations, associations and commercial driving schools to persuade federal and state officials to open their licensing offices to continue to offer CLP and CDL services.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 8, 2020
California's commercial carriers, already embroiled in the fight over the new AB-5 law that challenges their use of independent contractors, have now found themselves caught in a "no good deed goes unpunished" catch-22 because of their benevolence in offering COVID-19 assistance to those contractors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 6, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Schneider admits mistake in distributing inadequate wipes to its drivers, a Change.org petition opens to aid truckers, and Teamsters Canada demands reopening of rest rooms and rest areas.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 3, 2020
In an article at Automotive World the authors say that trucking industry participants ignore new autonomous vehicle technologies at their peril, predicting that within a relatively short time frame, within the next 15 years, forward-thinking larger carriers will have between 20 percent and 40 percent of their fleets as Level 4 autonomous Class 8 trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, April 1, 2020
The Federal government has issued new guidelines for truck drivers and employers over the past couple of days explaining how certain waivers might work during this period of reacting to the COVID-19 virus.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 25, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul states open up more truck parking during COVID-19 panic, FMCSA expands HOS waiver, and freight prices increase amid COVID-19 worries.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 20, 2020
Those of us who are pretty sick and tired of the "All coronavirus all the time" current news cycle are not going to find any relief in today's Trucking Truth News. But, unlike a lot of news going around about COVID-19 we actually have a positive slant for truck drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 18, 2020
On Friday, in answer to President Trump's declaration of a national emergency over the COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced a nationwide exemption to hours of service rules for truckers transporting essential supplies, equipment and persons in support of relief efforts.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 16, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul Western Express, Inc., of Tennessee digs out from tornado aftermath, a big rig driver is involved in two fatal crashes within six minutes, and another trucking firm quits due to rising insurance premiums.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 13, 2020
As commercial carriers acquire more telematics capabilities it was only a matter of time before someone came along and offered a way to integrate all of that information into a way to track, coach and train drivers, even to the point of making decisions about letting a driver go.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 9, 2020
A watermelon association convention might not be the first thing that comes to a trucker's mind in looking for insight into his profession, but a speaker at the February 21 National Watermelon Association convention offered an interesting take on several aspects of the industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 24, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, Tennessee's Howard Baer's Inc calls is quits, signs a carrier might be on the verge of closing, and five ways carriers should consider attracting and retaining drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 14, 2020
The United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety invited testimony from trucking representatives on February 4 to allow them to sound off with their opinions on the U.S. trucking industry … and committee members got an earful.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 10, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul ATA attends White House signing of the USMCA, AB-5 to be challenged in 9th Circuit Court, and most physically demanding jobs are ranked.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 31, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul U.S. Senators demand smart phone map apps update with truck-specific information, FHWA to study truck parking, ATA applauds the USMCA trade agreement passage, and FMCSA conducts a truck crash survey.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 17, 2020
In a decision on January 6 that could have far-reaching consequences for every carrier operating in California, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling granting Walmart's California drivers lost wages for time spent on their 10-hour layover break while they are responsible for their truck.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 8, 2020
In this Friday Short Haul, Sweatshop on Wheels video, a Federal District Court judge exempts truckers from AB-5, and another carriers closes its doors.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, January 3, 2020
Not surprisingly, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration dominated the news that directly impacts commercial truck drivers. In fact, five of the 10 articles in this, albeit subjective, selection of the top stories on Trucking Truth in 2019, were the result of activity out of the offices of that regulatory agency.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, January 1, 2020
The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit against FleetCor, a multi-billion dollar company that provides fuel card services to businesses.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, December 23, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a Congressman from Texas takes the FMCSA to task for ineffective enforcement of driver coercion, CARB pushes for zero emissions, and truck driving is highest rating for occupational fatalities.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, December 20, 2019
There is no question that freight is down from the heydays during 2018 when commercial carriers were scrambling to find extra capacity, and experiencing a driver shortage with their need to put men and women behind the wheel to haul that expanded freight volume.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, November 25, 2019
One would think that commercial carriers would want all the shipping customers they could handle, and would do anything to hang on to them. And, statistically, more than half of fleets surveyed by CCJ say they rarely give shipping customers the old heave ho. But that leaves the other nearly half of all carriers who are constantly evaluating the profitability of continuing with certain shippers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 20, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul the CTA files a lawsuit against California's AB-5, Highway Heroes seek nominations, and Iowa DOT posts a "Move Over" crash video.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 15, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul PBS examines AI and it's eventual effect on drivers' jobs, truckers are arrested for a CRV scam, truckers protest AB-5, and ELD quit working for thousands of drivers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, November 8, 2019
Trucking Truth News has reported recently on several high-dollar truck accident lawsuit settlements, with several of the high-profile lawsuits originating in the New Orleans area; which has been hard hit by what, for all intents and purposes, appear to be a rash of fraudulent lawsuits. That pattern of seeming insurance fraud has come to the attention of the United States District Attorney's Office investigators, and federal judges presiding over several Louisiana truck accident cases have put those cases on hold pending investigations into the "victims'" alleged fraudulent practices.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, November 6, 2019
United States Custom and Border Patrol agents say that increased security at the U.S. border with Mexico is resulting in more migrants taking the risk of being transported via semi trailers – sometimes with deadly consequences.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 30, 2019
As the dust settles on the recently passed new California independent contractor law motor carrier companies and independent drivers are scrambling to make sense of the law and to decide what to do about it.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 28, 2019
America's 1.8 million truck drivers haul some 71 percent of this country's freight, amounting to an $800 billion dollar chunk of the economy. So, the question remains: Why don't truck drivers wield this supposed influence and strike nationally, ending their grievances and bettering their situation?
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, October 21, 2019
American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear is fed up with exorbitant lawsuits against trucking companies and their drivers, and is asking trucking industry leaders to join him in lobbying Congress for tort reform legislation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 9, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul: Is the sky falling for ag haulers? Man pleads guilty to fraudulent freight brokering, FMCSA committee discusses HOS changes, FMCSA opens the Clearinghouse to registrations.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, October 4, 2019
Edging out its competition in the race for commercial drone deliveries, the drone subsidiary for UPS became the first in the field to receive Part 135 Standard certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, October 2, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Embark expands and adds LA and Phoenix hubs, FMCSA announces safety grants, Covenant exits Mexico routes, and some interesting trucking stats.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 27, 2019
In a looming battle between Federal supremacy and States' rights reminiscent of the Obama administration campaign against the State of Arizona a few years ago, but on opposite ends of the ideological political spectrum, the Trump administration has all but declared war on the State of California.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 25, 2019
As if California truckers didn't have enough to worry about with the signing of the independent contractors law by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, a proposed new law that mostly flew under the radar got signed into effect by him on Friday that requires smog testing on heavy-duty diesel trucks.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 23, 2019
Despite its many advantages, a significant number of fleets don't intend to implement new telematics technology beyond what is required by the electronic logging device mandate – which has a final full-compliance deadline of December 16 of this year.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, September 16, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Walmart promotes a Driver Appreciation Week video, expert says it is churn, not driver shortage, California passes an independent contractor bill, and hemp drivers accept pleas.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 13, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA deadline for comments coming up, truck orders are on the decline, and new maritime law will affect diesel fuel price and availability.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, September 6, 2019
A recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board not only kicks the teeth out of the independent contractor/employee controversy, but sets the stage for some major head-butting with California authorities if that state's latest attempt to force employee status on independent truck drivers is successful.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, September 4, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul, logistics aid organization mobiles for Hurricane Dorian, a speed limiter bill is "retired", and Pilot Flying J mounts "Thank a Driver" campaign
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, August 30, 2019
The effects of last year's California Supreme Court ruling against Dynamex Operations West, Inc., continue to reverberate through the halls of California's state legislative bodies with the ultimate result that California will no longer recognize a truck driver's status as an independent contractor.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, August 21, 2019
While the big rig driver shortage has been getting all the press these days, there's another truck industry-related labor shortage that has been flying under the radar – diesel mechanics and technicians.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 31, 2019
Infrastructure projects in 19 states are proposed to receive $856 million in grants from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program, Elaine Chao, Secretary of the Department of Transportation, announced last week.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 29, 2019
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released a notice into the Federal Register yesterday announcing the agency will be undergoing an investigation to "understand the prevalence, seriousness, and nature of the problem of harassment and assaults against truckers."
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 24, 2019
CDL Life, a trucking news and entertainment website, underwent an experiment recently to illustrate the danger for truckers of anti-idling laws.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, July 22, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Rhode Island rakes in big bucks with truck tolls, man guilty of sneaking illegal aliens onto trucks, and California Senate considers contractor driver law.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, July 12, 2019
With the hard deadline for ELD compliance looming ever closer, and with no more extensions or grandfathering to be counted on, a significant portion of commercial carriers industry wide have yet to install the devices in their fleets.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, July 10, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA proposes new rule regarding skills testing, a study looks at the driver shortage, Idaho postpones hemp sentencing, and Starksky remote pilots a big rig on Florida highway.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 28, 2019
In truck driver lore it was common for truckers to be thought of as Knights of the Road. That sobriquet might not be so common these days, but drivers are increasingly being enlisted to aid damsels in distress by spotting and reporting instances of human trafficking.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 24, 2019
The $800 billion U. S. trucking industry, considered by many insiders to be the canary in the coal mine in regard to the health of the nation's economy, is getting some worried glances by some of those insiders. According to recent figures, freight rates and loads on the spot market, were down by 62.6 percent in May compared to previous years' May numbers.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, June 19, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a community college offers a first-ever self-driving driver certificate, engineers look at truck platooning, and SoCal ports are stacked up with cargo.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 14, 2019
Driver detention time is coming under the scrutiny of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and drivers and other interested parties are being asked to submit comments regarding this important area of the truck freight-hauling industry.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 10, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul Boxbot steps up the game with autonomous last-mile deliveries, FMCSA updates HOS rules changes progress, hundreds forced to retake CDL tests.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, June 7, 2019
In response to the large amount of publicity given to a truck driver being arrested in Idaho for legally transporting a hemp load the United States Department of Agriculture released a statement last week clarifying that hemp is no longer subject to the Controlled Substance Act and thus can be legally transported.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, June 3, 2019
Memorial Day weekend is something to look forward to for a large segment of the United States population, including truck drivers, but it's that time that drivers are away from their trucks and their loads that makes Memorial Day weekend prime time for cargo thieves.
Dave Wickenhauser on Sat, May 25, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a driver is arrested for hauling hemp, carriers lose a $26.5 million lawsuit, and FMCSA is looking at new rules for autonomous vehicles.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 24, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA's under-21 comments open with a bang, a Tesla crashes under autopilot, and 24,000 drivers sign contract with YRC
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 17, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul a Texas driver was awarded $80 million settlement, an Old Dominion driver won SC contest, and industry leaders talk about a loading dock "black hole."
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 10, 2019
With the ongoing driver shortage and the capacity problems that the shortage creates for shippers truck industry watchers are seeing an increase in manufacturers and retailers starting up their own private fleets – or signing with carriers for a dedicated operation.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, May 6, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul FMCSA announces HOS rules report date, locals protest proposed new Love's, and Falcon drivers get hired.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, May 3, 2019
Truck drivers normally give little notice of bugs in the areas they drive through except for having to deal with the occasional bug swarms dirtying up their windshields. But beginning today truckers delivering or picking up loads in certain counties of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Virginia need to know they could face severe penalties for not carrying a Spotted Lanternfly Permit.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, May 1, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we hear a recommendation to think about electric trucks, Penske opens an electric charging station, prices might increase because of the border crossing crisis, and railroads are taking business away from trucking companies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 26, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we hear about a CDL examiner arrested, learn about a new toll recommendation, and discover marijuana testing for more positives
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, April 12, 2019
Trucking companies and U.S. manufacturers breathed a collective sign of relief late last week when President Trump backed off from his threat of closing the southern border. But problems still remain for cross-border truckers as they face increasingly longer lines and wait times to get across.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, April 8, 2019
On March 5 both the United States Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills requiring trucking companies to install underguards on trucks and trailers that will prevent vehicles from riding underneath the truck or trailer in the event of a crash.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 27, 2019
The "It's a convoy!" of lore and ballad is morphing into an entirely new concept for truck transportation on America's highways. But, it's doubtful that movies and songs will spring forth in honor of what motorists may soon be encountering along this country's interstates.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 25, 2019
According to some industry spokesmen, trucking companies are performing more poorly in the area of unscheduled roadside repairs than they should be, resulting in higher overall maintenance costs and affecting their customer experience.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 20, 2019
In this week's Friday Short Haul we report on the $100 million Prime-Swift settlement, see why Barron's thinks the driver shortage is a myth, and announce the TCA Best Fleet to Drive For award.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 15, 2019
A spate of fake accident claims against commercial vehicles in the New Orleans area highlights a growing problem for trucking companies.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 11, 2019
At what point is the American public going to stand up and take notice of the truck driver shortage? According to spokespeople for the retail industry, that time is right about now.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, March 6, 2019
Researchers at MIT have found a way to turn a driver's lowly smartphone into a tool that they tout as being able to reduce fuel consumption by 5 to 10 percent, monitor tire pressure and even monitor wheel alignment.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, March 4, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we look at possible changes in the way freight rates are calculated, find out about new HOS rules possibly coming soon, and get January's tonnage report.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, March 1, 2019
In this Friday Short Haul we see why Connecticut trucking companies are riled, we look at what's happening with hydrogen fuel-cell trucks, and discover the roads with the worst cell phone use.
Dave Wickenhauser on Fri, February 22, 2019
That America's roadways are a deteriorating mess is no surprise to anybody who has sat behind a wheel any time recently. But the problems of our nation's crumbling infrastructure go far beyond just the discomfort of a jarring ride. Simply put, our country's economic health demands that our roads get an upgrade.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 20, 2019
In a report recently released by SensiGuard Supply Chain Intelligence Center the number of cargo thefts were down by 19 percent across the United States last year, but the value of goods stolen is about the same.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 18, 2019
Detention, the on-duty but not-driving time a driver spends waiting at a shipper or receiver, is a necessary evil in the trucking industry, but the consensus among drivers is that there should be compensation to the driver for his or her non-driving, on-duty time.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 13, 2019
In the ongoing effort to alleviate the driver shortage trucking companies are beginning to consider a new strategy to entice new drivers – they are taking a hard look at their reasoning behind sign-on bonuses. They are asking whether they should ditch them entirely in favor of offering guaranteed pay.
Dave Wickenhauser on Wed, February 6, 2019
The trucking industry is looking at a new tactic in the battle to alleviate the ongoing driver shortage problem. The problem, according to a recent release from the Commercial Vehicle Training Association is that long delays in some states' CDL testing programs are resulting in almost a quarter million potential drivers annually having to delay their entrance into the driving workforce … or, they give up entirely and take other jobs.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, February 4, 2019
Appeals against California's low-carbon fuel standard by transportation industry interests failed this month at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals level. Judges in the case stood on their belief that the state legislature reasoning behind the stricter California standard was concern that climate change, and particularly global warming, presented a risk to California.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 28, 2019
Despite an economic decline in some sectors in 2018, particularly in December, the transportation industry continues to show economic expansion.
Dave Wickenhauser on Mon, January 21, 2019
Over 100,000 truck drivers likely have undiagnosed sleep apnea and more testing is on the way. Sleep apnea is going to be a big issue in trucking and more and more drivers will be tested as testing procedures become less expensive and lawsuits from accidents become more prevalent.
Brett Aquila on Thu, August 10, 2017
What do new drivers need to know about truck stops? Experienced truck drivers share their insights on the do's and dont's of the truck stops. How to stay safe, get sleep, and act right.
Patrick Netzel on Thu, June 15, 2017
Recently, we had a discussion with experienced drivers on what changes they would make to the hours-of-service rules that all interstate CDL license holders are bound by.
Patrick Netzel on Tue, May 30, 2017
They say self-driving vehicles are on the way. They're right around the corner. I say they're full of baloney. It's a bunch of noise from a bunch of clowns looking for attention, and here's why....
Brett Aquila on Thu, May 25, 2017
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