LLN (3/2/22) – For the past two years, we’ve all missed the biggest event in the trucking industry – but at the end of this month, the Mid-America Trucking Show will be back. We’ll hear from Toby Young about what they have in store for MATS 2022, and from The Spirit driver Marty Ellis. Also, the flatbed market is heating up. Stephen Petit of DAT has details on flatbed spot rates and load volumes, both of which are jumping off the page right now. And earlier today, Transportation Secretary Pete B...
Mar 03, 2022•51 min
LLN (3/1/22) – Lawmakers in 10 states are considering changes to fuel taxes, with most wanting to cut the tax. We’ll explain who’s talking about it, what kinds of cuts they’re considering. Also, your truck is likely full of sensors and alarms that alert you to the first sign of a problem, and that is a good thing. Such is the case with an overheating tire. So what do we do when that alert comes through? Mike Steiner of Michelin breaks it down for us. And this evening is the State of the Union ad...
Mar 02, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/28/22) – Getting a warning instead of a ticket can, through a kind of back door, affect your CSA, your PSP and other factors that have a direct impact on you and your ability to make a living. We’ll sort out the facts and offer some advice. Also, what does one of the most cited poems in American literary history have in common with the current state of trucking? Jami Jones tells us as she previews the March/April issue of Land Line Magazine. And Maryland is one of several states consideri...
Mar 01, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/25/22) – The crisis in Ukraine could end up affecting the trucking industry here. Truckers need to be able to deal with basic maintenance problems that can come up out on the road – and that means having some basic tools. We have some advice. And, truck shows, trash and training are on the minds of the drivers who visit the Spirit of the American Trucker. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:04 – Tools of the trade. 24:41 – Truck shows, training and trash. 39:20 – Ukraine effect on trucking industry....
Feb 26, 2022•50 min
LLN (2/24/22) – The truck parking crisis has entered the chat in D.C. as a means to addressing the supply chain crisis. Like zombies in a horror movie, left lane restriction bills for trucks keep popping up in statehouses across the country. And what’s holding up billions of dollars meant for infrastructure projects. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:04 – Infrastructure money: spigot remains dry. 24:41 – Like zombies in a horror movie, left lane bills keep popping up. 39:20 – Truck parking enters the chat....
Feb 25, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/23/22) – You can protest peacefully but still pay a price as a professional truck driver. FAQs about the VIUS. Signs that the spot market is coming back down to Earth a bit, but some markets and lanes are still churning out high rates. And upcoming changes to the National Consumer Complaint Database for truckers. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:04 – FAQs about VIUS and the potential price of protesting. 24:41 – Spot market rates on the move. 39:20 – FMCSA’s complaint box gets a makeover....
Feb 24, 2022•50 min
LLN (2/2/22) – No jab, no entry for Canadian and Mexican truckers entering the U.S. right now, but a new bill would provide exemptions. The opioid epidemic extends far and wide, including into trucking – so how do we end it? Plus, there may be a new national leader on truck parking. 0:00 – Newscast. 10:04 – Opioids: a slippery slope. 24:41 – The new national leader on truck parking? 39:20 – No jab, no problem under new cross-border vaccine mandate bill....
Feb 23, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/21/22) – Depending on where you are, you have a decent chance out on the road of seeing some incredibly beautiful show trucks plying their trade – some of them with pretty unusual twists in their appearance or design. So, have you ever seen a Peterbilt in pink? Bryan Martin of the Chrome Shop Mafia explains. OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis and Business Services Manager Dale Watkins offer some winter driving tips. And money from the new federal infrastructure bill has not yet made its ...
Feb 22, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/18/22) – The U.S. and four other nations are forming a task force to investigate possible price gouging in the supply chain. We’ll also have an update on the sunset of 3G cellphone service and its effect on ELDs. From a state that won’t do anything about predatory towing practices to another that’s going to bat for truckers to get access to bathrooms at ports, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And Marty Ellis says vaccine m...
Feb 19, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/17/22) – Several times over the length of the pandemic, the FMCSA has changed its emergency declaration – especially in regard to what freight is covered. And now, the agency has done it again. Also, billions of new federal dollars for safety programs is expected to boost the pursuit of automated ticket cameras. Meanwhile, a new law speeds Ohio toward the use of open road tolling. And Congress is once again kicking the can down the road on annual spending bills that were due five months a...
Feb 18, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/16/22) – New entry-level driver training rules are now in place. That’s led to a series of calls coming in to OOIDA headquarters with questions about the new rule. We’ll have some answers. Also, there’s something fishy going on in New England – literally. Dean Croke of DAT tells us why there’s a lot of opportunity there for both reefer and nonreefer haulers. Then he gives us the latest trends and numbers on the spot market. And money from the new federal infrastructure bill has not yet ma...
Feb 17, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/15/22) – A member of Congress is pushing the administration to end cross-border vaccine mandates that have spurred protests in Canada, and plans for protests in the U.S. Also, is allowing interstate truck drivers under 21 years of age a safety concern? Dr. Michael Belzer of Wayne State University has made his concerns clear to FMCSA. He’ll discuss them on our show today. And Washington state lawmakers are looking at incentives to create more truck parking, and at making restrooms at ports...
Feb 16, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/14/22) – It’s not every day you ask an officer to give you a ticket, but there are circumstances you might want to. Jeff McConnell and James Mennella of Road Law explain that one for us, then offer up a gentle reminder to think before you pay off any ticket. Also, “pain, uncertainty and chaos” – three words that very accurately describe the times we live in. Jami Jones, managing editor of Land Line Magazine, explains about how they apply to the trucking industry. And efforts continue to r...
Feb 15, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/11/22) – The Canadian protest and others being planned deal with something most truckers don’t like – a mandate, in this case for vaccines. However, officials are ignoring far bigger issues for most truck drivers – among them, parking. Also, despite forecasts for warmer weather, the importance of being prepared on the road remains the same. We’ll have some winter driving tips. And FMCSA is embarking on another self-certification adventure, this time involving trainers for new drivers, and...
Feb 12, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/10/22) – Homeland Security officials are concerned about a planned truck convoy and other protests in the U.S. We’ll explain what has them worried. Also, the FMCSA’s new entry level driver training rule is now in effect, and its Training Provider Registry is as well. So who’s affected, and what does it mean to them? Meanwhile, the U.S. Defense Department is offering some career help for troops and veterans. And efforts underway at 11 statehouses are intended to put an end to ticket quotas...
Feb 11, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/9/22) – You may have seen headlines about a 10% jump in positive drug test results submitted to FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. But that’s not the full story. Also, we’ll also have the latest on the Canadian protests against vaccine mandates, as well as a U.S. convoy that has now announced a start date. Normally, things are pretty slow on the spot market this time of year, but we do not live in normal times. Stephen Petit of DAT tells us what’s different about 2022 so far. And a p...
Feb 10, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/8/22) – A bill that requires trucks to stay clear of the left lane during winter storms continues to progress in Virginia. Meanwhile, Utah lawmakers try to legislate a new way for lanes to merge. Also, a nurse in Canada left her career to become a long-haul trucker, while a driver in Saskatchewan was gifted a batch of cookies from an anonymous baker. Dr. John McElligott discusses the state of the pandemic. And Congress has kicked the can down the road again on its annual spending bills, w...
Feb 09, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/7/22) – OOIDA has been on record opposing vaccine mandates since the topic first came up. Now, it’s officially asking both the U.S. and Canadian governments to give truckers break as they carry out their duties across the border. Also, the clock is ticking toward the April tax filing deadline. So what kind of information, paperwork and support material do you need now to make things go smoothly then? And a convoy in protest of vaccine mandates is set to start soon in the United States. On...
Feb 08, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/4/22) – Canadian truckers are in an uproar, to say the least, about the U.S. and Canadian vaccine mandates for crossing the border, and Marty Ellis is getting an earful. Also, the hike in minimum insurance limits we feared last year never happened, but the idea is sure to come up again. In fact, OOIDA’s truck insurance department is still getting calls from concerned truckers about the issue. And a bill now before Congress would fix a longstanding problem with the background checks requir...
Feb 05, 2022•50 min
LLN (2/3/22) – Lawmakers in four states are working to address who can travel when in the left-lane of multi-lane highways. Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania bill takes the state one step closer to a truck weigh system used in nearly all other states. Also, a guidance document put out by FMCSA is designed to clarify that third-party testers can give CDL candidates their knowledge tests; a new round of federal transportation grants; and a new highway fatality report. And a bill in Congress would make per...
Feb 04, 2022•50 min
LLN (2/2/22) – We’ll take another trip to The Parking Zone with Tyson Fisher of Land Line Magazine, who tells us about some of the bad developments (looking at you, U.S. Department of Transportation) and some of the good (thanks, Washington state). Also, tried to buy a new or used truck recently? If you have, you know how hard is. Steve Tam of ACT Research tells us about the ongoing problems, how that’s affecting truck buyers, and what the future looks like for the market. And yesterday, we told...
Feb 03, 2022•51 min
LLN (2/1/22) – After reaching historic highs, the spot market for truckload freight is beginning to settle into typical seasonal patterns. But there’s still a lot of freight on the load board. Also, Washington state lawmakers are discussing removing tolls from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, while legislative efforts in Indiana are focused on ticket cameras, reckless driving and cable barriers. And as automation technologies are pushed forward, what will the future of trucking look like. That’s one o...
Feb 02, 2022•51 min
LLN (1/31/22) – One of the most controversial actions in trucking in recent years is the requirement by Canada and the United States to require vaccinations before crossing the border. We’ll explain what the facts are. Also, PUC is a clever acronym that’s a pretty apt description of the times we live in. Jami Jones, managing editor of Land Line Magazine, tells us how it applies to the trucking industry as she previews the February issue of the magazine. And a bridge collapse in Pittsburgh is add...
Feb 01, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/28/22) – It’s accepted that most truckers receive pay by the mile. But is that really the case? Even when it’s so-called “practical miles,” truckers are more often than not traveling more miles than they’re paid for. And Marty Ellis is hearing about it. Also, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is getting a facelift. But will it fix the problems the website faced in the...
Jan 29, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/27/22) – Washington state lawmakers are trying to help truckers with parking, including keeping state-owned and -operated rest areas open. Meanwhile, several states may require truckers to remove snow and ice from atop their vehicles. Also, the White House Office of Management and Budget has given an initial OK for collecting information for the FMCSA’s apprenticeship pilot program for under-21-year-old drivers. And earlier today, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced his depa...
Jan 28, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/26/22) – It’s already been an interesting year for the market – and reefer freight is running hot, despite the cold weather. We’ll have that, plus the latest rates for the different segments of the trucking industry. Also, a lot of people owe a great deal to Martha Taylor, the wife of an OOIDA board member who witnessed firsthand more than half the history of the trucking industry. We’ll have a remembrance. And the top Republican on the House Transportation Committee wants the president’s...
Jan 27, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/25/22) – Very soon, new requirements for entry level driver training will go into effect for the trucking industry. And like every change over the past few years, it’s generating questions and concerns. Also, eight states are pursuing some form of fuel tax relief, in part due to increased federal highway money, but also because of state budget surpluses. And despite passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law, the financial spigot out of the nation’s capital isn’t on yet, due to some bas...
Jan 26, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/24/22) – A bill in Washington state would give truckers access to more parking, while efforts to work with state DOTs are underway in Missouri and Ohio. Meanwhile other states are working to reform police-dispatched towing. Also, a lot of people who enter trucking have a goal – owning their own truck and being their own boss. You have to start with spec’ing a rig. Greg Frary of Truck Tractor Trailer.com offers some advice. And making an insurance claim is never fun, but with a few steps i...
Jan 25, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/21/22) – Marty Ellis is deep in the heart of Texas, hearing some skepticism about a weird-bordering-on-nonsense left lane proposal and the latest from Tesla. Also, there are lots of ways you can pretty up your rig, but few things have as much impact as paint. However, whether it’s a traditional paint scheme or something more ornate, Bryan Martin of the Chrome Shop Mafia says you now have an option – vinyl wraps. And OOIDA says a change in standards for truckers with a vision impairment in...
Jan 22, 2022•50 min
LLN (1/20/22) – A new deputy administrator has been named at FMCSA – and if this time follows the administration’s pattern, that will likely indicate the eventual nominee to permanently head the agency. Also, a lawmaker in Virginia wants to restrict trucks from the left lanes of interstates there over a false claim, and OOIDA says it’s a bad idea. Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has unveiled a budget that includes freezing the state’s fuel tax rates. And the government is sending out COV...
Jan 21, 2022•50 min
