LLN (9/15/21) – A new program is enlisting truckers in the fight against human trafficking and training is completely free. Two organizations have found new ways to honor commercial truck drivers. The spot market has cooled off a bit. Plus, an update on what the House labor committee is doing about the PRO Act. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:14 – Free training to fight human trafficking. 25:06 – Spot market check. 40:02 –PRO Act provisions in reconciliation bill....
Sep 16, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/14/21) – Like Charlie Brown with the football, Congress failed to pass another truck parking amendment and we’ve got the details, the analysis and the new path forward. Tips on quarterly estimated tax payments and tax extensions. Plus, California looks all but certain to extend a mileage tax pilot program and Alaska makes moves to raise its fuel tax rate for the first time in more than 50 years. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:14 – Quarterly estimated tax payments and tax extensions. 25:06 – Californ...
Sep 15, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/13/21) – Physical damage coverage may be optional, but it might as well be necessary. Why picking up the insurance coverage covers you on a number of fronts. A new song inspired by an OOIDA member involving terminal cancer, a Facebook post, a surprise gone wrong and a lasting tribute that the driver’s widow will never forget. Plus, takeaways from the recent CVSA conference, tort reform, towing and medical certificates. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:14 – Pocketful of Quarters. 25:06 – Physical damag...
Sep 14, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/10/21) – In just two weeks, truckers will gather in Joplin, Missouri, for the biennial Guilty By Association Truck Show. We’ll have a preview of the big event. Also, Marty Ellis is between truck shows, but in the meantime he’s hearing plenty about driver retention and why there isn’t very much of that. And it’s been a while since the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaced NAFTA – including reforms to cross-border trucking. So how is it going? 0:00 – Newscast. 10:14 – GBATS preview. 25:06 –...
Sep 11, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/9/21) – The FMCSA is giving states money for truck safety, the IRS is giving some truckers a better tax break, and yet another carrier wants an exemption from driver training rules. Also, Michigan lawmakers may OK speed cameras in work zones; Pennsylvania may let local cops use speed radar; and California could change how they set speed limits. We’ll have information about upcoming truck shows. And FMCSA sets regulations. But if you’re put out of service, the officer likely followed out o...
Sep 10, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/8/21) – Over the past 15 or so months, it seems like COVID-19 has affected just about everything, but it’s even affecting things you may not know about – or expect. And among those things is how you get an alcohol or drug test. Also, Hurricane Ida had a profound effect on the markets last week. We’ll go over the scope of that impact and where it was felt the most, as well as where the market is trending now. And if you thought the price tag on the $3.5 trillion federal budget was high, yo...
Sep 09, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/7/21) – Work has started on a $3.5 trillion budget – including yet more money for transportation and infrastructure. But where will that money be spent, and on what? And will truck parking finally get some attention? Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle when you’re sitting behind a wheel for hours on end is difficult – but it doesn’t have to be impossible, and exercise doesn’t have to include access to a gym and long runs. And a bill in Michigan would use $1.6 billion dollars in pandemic...
Sep 08, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/3/21) – Truckers who want to help out in a crisis like Hurricane Ida have few options. Now, there’s a way they can help. Meanwhile, one city develops a plan to keep overweight trucks on a fragile highway. Also, from a good Samaritan truck driver to a motor carrier that wants to put trainees in the driver’s seat without a trainer who’s awake, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And Marty Ellis continues to make his way through...
Sep 04, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/6/21) – Earlier this year, industry watchers predicted a qualified driver shortage could lead to a fuel shortage across the U.S. We’ll have an encore of a roundtable discussion on the topic. Also, to figure out what trucks need in terms of highway infrastructure, it’s probably a good idea to know which trucks are going to be on the highways. A survey is planned to discover just that – and OOIDA says it could be good news for truckers. And the lawsuit against California’s AB5 may go to the...
Sep 04, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/2/21) – The FMCSA will allow states to extend CDLs through November – and has extended its hours of service emergency declaration, with some changes. Also, a new rule in Texas will protect trucking operations from frivolous lawsuits, while three states open the door for electronic ticket cameras. We’ll have information about upcoming truck shows. Why are you an owner-operator? Why are you either leased on or on your own authority? A new survey asks that and more, while the government is o...
Sep 03, 2021•51 min
LLN (9/1/21) – The lawsuit against California’s AB5 – the law meant to determine who is and isn’t an independent contractor – may go to the Supreme Court, while another related law has been ruled unconstitutional. Also, when a broker doesn’t pay, federal law requires them to carry a bond to cover carriers who have hauled a load. But in practice, it only comes through in a limited number of cases, and usually not for the full amount owed. And Hurricane Ida is already having an impact on the marke...
Sep 02, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/31/21) – The people pushing to require speed limiters in trucks have lost another battle after they attempted to attach the requirement on a defense spending bill. However, that’s not likely to stop them or those fighting against a requirement. Also, the list of what affects fuel consumption includes your tires. We’ll discuss how to maximize fuel efficiency by paying attention to what you’re running on. And Election Day is quickly approaching. And if you’re not yet registered to vote, it ...
Sep 01, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/30/21) – For years, mainstream media outlets have accepted the driver shortage myth, and no amount of evidence convinces them otherwise. So why is that? Also, the Santa Fe Trail is billed as America's first great international commercial highway, and it’s about to celebrate its 200th birthday. The chairwoman of Santa Fe Trail 200 organization will explain what traders on the trail back then have in common with the truckers of today. And have you noticed your insurance costs going up, up, ...
Aug 31, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/27/21) – A new song is inspired by a truck driver – and that alone is a good story. But this one involves an OOIDA member, terminal cancer, a Facebook post, a surprise gone wrong and a lasting tribute that the driver’s widow will never forget. While Marty Ellis is enjoying some fine baked goods in Wisconsin, truckers are getting really heated over carrier-based lease-purchase plans. And a recent court judgement might appear to support raising insurance minimums. But go just an inch deep i...
Aug 28, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/26/21) – Yet another company has requested an exemption to the hours of service, allowing their drivers to work longer hours than allowed under the rules, while the FMCSA has proposed a change to vision standards. Also, Massachusetts is looking for creative ways to raise local road money. Meanwhile, New Jersey wants to make it easier to get a REAL-ID compliant CDL. And cell phone carriers are shutting down 3G networks; a microchip shortage delays many products; and a White House meeting o...
Aug 27, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/25/21) – The markets are often at the mercy of Mother Nature, and this past week was no different. Severe weather out east and extreme heat out west are having an effect on freight rates. We’ll review what’s happened and what’s expected to happen in the markets. Also, who should pay the cost for a load that’s damaged? Federal law contains some instructions on the topic, but in reality, it’s the contracts between brokers and carriers that ends up deciding the question. And the U.S. House i...
Aug 26, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/24/21) – For more than a half century, speed limits have been set using the “85th percentile rule.” Now, California may change how they do it. Meanwhile, local transportation ballot issues are coming up across the country. Also, problems in your truck’s engine can catch you by surprise – unless you’re doing regular oil analysis. We’ll discuss what makes for an effective analysis program and what red flags you really need to look out for. And a Commerce Department report used the “driver s...
Aug 25, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/23/21) – It’s well-known that detention time is a big issue for truckers, and can eat away at their ability to make a living. What many don’t consider is the role brokers play, and how little existing regulations protect them. Also, we all know the idea of raising minimum insurance requirements by 167 percent is a bad idea – and the latest Land Line Magazine tells us why. And many truckers are confused, especially about changes in federal regulations. Many of those truckers call OOIDA loo...
Aug 24, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/20/21) – Truck parking advocates struck out trying to get funding added to the infrastructure bill, but the truck parking bill, HR2187, still has a pretty good shot of advancing. Also, a couple of tragic situations that can be attributed to a lack of parking and a California city charging truckers to park at their own homes. Marty Ellis is spending some time in Wisconsin encouraging those he talks with to get some education – and he has just the place to get it. And the infrastructure bil...
Aug 21, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/19/21) – Werner wants to let some trainees drive without a trainer in the jump seat. Also, a federal agency investigates Tesla’s Autopilot, while a coalition sues over recent hours of service changes. Texas voters will decide whether counties can issue transportation bonds, while several cities and counties there have lined up highway-related ballot questions. Some in the private sector and federal government are crying “driver shortage” to justify their own goals. And we’ll examine what ...
Aug 20, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/18/21) – As broker problems pile up for some carriers – problems such as refused loads, terrible or nonexistent detention pay or fines for arriving early – carriers are looking for solutions. We’ll have some advice on handling those and more. Also, CVSA's Brake Safety Week is right around the corner. We’ll have some tips about how to pass with flying colors, as well as the latest on freight trends in the spot market. And now that the Senate has given its OK to the infrastructure bill, the...
Aug 19, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/17/21) – What do you do when something shows up on your CSA report but you don’t think it should be there? You file a DataQ challenge. We’ll go through how you use that system and when it’s appropriate. Also, a Pennsylvania lawmaker has offered an alternative to the plan to toll bridges in the state. Meanwhile, another effort would allow local police departments to use radar to enforce speed limits. And a federal agency is taking a long, hard look at Tesla’s Autopilot system after nearly ...
Aug 18, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/16/21) – The infrastructure bill would allow more “asset recycling” – fancy talk for more toll roads. We’ll examine which states might do that. An Ohio U.S. Senate candidate says it’s a bad idea to get more women behind the wheels of trucks. Also, two Citizen Driver honorees discuss their time in the spotlight; an OOIDA life member’s generous act; and the Association of Christian Truckers’ upcoming jamboree. And when you go shopping for truck insurance, don’t just shop around for insuranc...
Aug 17, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/13/21) – Many of us remember the 1970s, when truckers were heroes both on the road – and on major Hollywood films. We’ll discuss some of the classic trucking movies with Bryan Martin of the Chrome Shop Mafia. Also, Marty Ellis has a truck show nearly every weekend for the rest of the summer, and he’s headed to two of the best. And ever since the advent of the Spaghetti Western, we’ve all heard a phrase used to describe countless situations – “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” With apologie...
Aug 14, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/12/21) – The infrastructure bill that just passed in the U.S. Senate would require automatic emergency braking systems, create a pilot program for under-21 truck drivers, and more. Also, four states are changing the rules for left lane use on superhighways, while Missouri clears the final hurdle to increasing its fuel tax for the first time in 25 years. We’ll have information about some upcoming truck shows on the Land Line Now Industry Calendar. And China is ramping up industrial product...
Aug 13, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/11/21) – What are the rules that govern the relationship between brokers and carriers? And how effective are those rules out in the real world? We’ll offer a primer on how it’s supposed to work and how well it does. Also, an unusual indicator is giving us some insight into the freight market this year. We’ll have that, plus the usual rundown of freight and rates. And with the Senate passing its version of the infrastructure bill covering traditional infrastructure, now they’re on to the r...
Aug 12, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/10/21) – The U.S. Senate has given its formal OK to the bipartisan infrastructure bill. So what is and isn’t in it, and what’s next? We’ll have the details, including the lack of funding for truck parking. Also, getting a traffic ticket is never fun and even less fun depending on where you get it. And in some places, if you get pulled over, you don’t have many options. We’ll explain what they are. And concerns about protests that disrupt highway traffic are prompting Alabama lawmakers to ...
Aug 11, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/9/21) – California’s AB5 and an attempt to duplicate it at the federal level have led to a lot of confusion among truckers about what is and isn’t legal anymore. We’ll offer some clarification on that and other issues. Also, brake violations – especially brakes that are out of adjustment – are among the most common inspection violations. That’s why CVSA conducts its annual Brake Safety Week enforcement blitz, this year starting Aug. 22. And the Highway Trust Fund is running out of funds, ...
Aug 10, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/6/21) – The attempt to get money to build additional truck parking spaces into the infrastructure bill shifted into high gear today as an amendment was proposed. We’ll have the details. Also, from the CEO of a truck manufacturer who’s charged with all kinds of false statements to a couple of top federal officials who clearly understand what’s really happening in trucking, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And Marty Ellis is...
Aug 07, 2021•51 min
LLN (8/5/21) – The infrastructure bill taking shape in the U.S. Senate looks pretty good for truckers – except it contains nothing for truck parking. And efforts to change that are an uphill climb. Also, just how much stuff are you allowed to have behind your windshield; trucks passed Roadcheck 2021 with flying colors; and two reports name the worst roads and best infrastructure. And Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering actions on weigh stations, heavy vehicle bonds, a gas tax holiday and taxi...
Aug 06, 2021•51 min
