LLN (3/15/23) – Are those signs of stability in the new and used truck markets? Maybe. Steve Tam of ACT Research walks us through the latest numbers in the new and used truck markets. Also, there is some good news for flatbed haulers, as demand is on the rise. And Marty Ellis is hearing about carrier shutdowns, including those who do it right – and those who don’t do it so well. 0:00 – Newscast. 09:43 – Stability in the truck market? 24:03 – Good news for flatbed. 38:47 – Carrier shutdowns....
Mar 16, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/14/23) - Plenty of people would like to see an end to the ritual of changing the clocks for daylight saving time. And lawmakers are listening. Also, far too many times, someone has gone into research with preconceived notions that skews the results. The OOIDA Foundation has taken a lead role in challenging some of the questionable research that is out there. And Type 2 diabetes is an illness becoming more common in our society. Many truck drivers are at risk, and many already cope with th...
Mar 15, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/13/23) – The president’s nominee for secretary of labor – and her record – has some concerned, including folks at OOIDA. So why is that? Also, when comes to appearing in court and state laws there's a lot of things you need to know. We’ll hear from the guys at Road Law about what going to court is really like and what ticket charge they often see from certain states. And some exclusions may apply – even when it comes to insurance. Trina Skywalker and Trista Roby of OOIDA’s Truck Insurance...
Mar 14, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/10/23) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has changes to its out-of-service criteria going into effect soon. Jeremy Disbrow of CVSA breaks down what truck drivers need to know. Also, from a snow plow driver who came to the rescue of stranded truckers to a Cabinet nominee with some worrying credentials, we’ll tell you who’s been good and who’s been bad in recent news with some Roses and Razzberries. And every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance conducts its Roadcheck inspect...
Mar 11, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/9/23) – The FMCSA has taken several actions regarding brokers and rules related to them. And OOIDA has added its own comments to the debate as well. Also, an OOIDA member that's been behind the wheel for 50 years is being recognized once again with not one but two honors. Candy Bass talks about being named to the MATS Wall of Fame for 2023 and as one of the three finalists for Driver of the Year for Women in Trucking. And more states are getting on the bandwagon of requiring motorists to ...
Mar 10, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/8/23) – Truck drivers have been fighting for bathroom access at shippers and receivers. We recently spoke with two OOIDA members about the importance of the issue and looked at what’s being done to make it mandatory for shippers and receivers to provide bathroom access to drivers. Also, spring shipping season is starting to kick into gear according to DAT. And more and more truckers are talking about high costs and low rates. They want to know how much money brokers are taking and what sh...
Mar 09, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/7/23) – A bill that would do away with the split speed limit in Indiana has secured approval from the state’s Senate. Meanwhile, several other states are looking at other changes to their speed limits. Also, we look back at the long road toward getting driver training regulations on the books. Bryan Spoon, OOIDA board member, and Jami Jones of Land Line Magazine join us for some perspective. And when it comes to moving violations, a lot of drivers may not know how to handle them. We’ll di...
Mar 08, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/6/23) – One of the big topics of conversation right now in trucking is whether the FMCSA will require speed limiters, and if so, when? In fall 2022, the FMCSA asked for public comment on expanding the ELD mandate to trucks made before the year 2000. Now that request is generating questions and concerns among truckers. And nine times a year Land Line Magazine sends copies to truckers across the nation. And we have members of the magazine team on our program to give you a sneak peek inside ...
Mar 07, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/3/23) – To gain a better understanding the effect of legal marijuana on the trucking industry, the American Trucking Research Institute has launched a new survey. Also, the Mid-America Trucking Show gets underway in a few weeks. OOIDA’s marketing manager discusses what the Association has planned for the event. And as he gets ready to get back on the road, Marty Ellis ran into some interesting stories. One involves some precautions truckers should look into if they are about to have their...
Mar 04, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/2/23) – Eight states are taking a look at who can use the left lane when, with many of them focusing on trucks. Meanwhile, a bill that would allow 90,000-pound trucks on Georgia’s highways has undergone some revisions. Also, knowing what steps to take after receiving a traffic ticket can be crucial when it comes to fighting it. We’ll talk with the Road Law guys to talk about what the process is when you give them a call. And the Biden administration has moved to fill several key positions...
Mar 03, 2023•50 min
LLN (3/1/23) – Kenworth is commemorating its 100th anniversary. Before looking to the next 100 years, we look back at the past 100 with a trio of Kenworth employees, who explain how they went from a few dozen trucks to one of the biggest truck manufacturers in the world. Also, the number of loads and trucks on the DAT MembersEdge load board have stayed steady this year. We’ll get the latest from Stephen Petit of DAT. And Marty Ellis will shortly be back behind the wheel of The Spirit. In the mea...
Mar 02, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/28/23) – The governors of two states are taking aim at nuclear verdicts – and both have expressed concerns about the way trucking companies are being affected. Also, so you have a truck, but you want to make it into something special. Where do you begin? We get a few ideas about customizing from Bryan Martin, boss man at Chrome Shop Mafia in Joplin, Mo. And tax time is coming. What you need to file your taxes may well depend on whether you’re self-employed or a company driver, but in any ...
Mar 01, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/27/23) – A Capitol Hill publication has taken a look at some forthcoming EPA regulations – and it, like many truckers, has concluded that it’s going to cost trucking a lot. We’ll discuss the article and its impact. Also, the fight against tolling roads is one OOIDA has been a part of for decades. OOIDA President Todd Spencer talks about the Association’s role in the fight against tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania. And not securing a load can cost you a lot of money in the long run. Trina Skywa...
Feb 28, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/24/23) – The OOIDA Foundation’s 2022 Freight Rate Survey adds some context to what you are likely already feeling, that rates are down and costs are up. Plus, it’s often one step forward and two steps back when it comes to making progress on the truck parking crisis. And finally, driver compensation struggles, “designated swearers” and “show chains.” 0:00 – Newscast 9:43 – “Getting it from both sides” 24:34 – The Parking Zone 39:17 – Designated swearers and show chains...
Feb 25, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/23/23) – After years of pleading and prodding, it looks like the broker transparency issue is finally set to take center stage – and you’ll have a chance to chime in during next month’s Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. Plus, what’s it going to take to fix the broken driver compensation model? And finally, more states are looking at changes to fuel taxes. 0:00 – Newscast 9:43 – Fixing the driver compensation model 24:34 – Regulatory Roundup 39:17 – Fudging with fuel tax rates...
Feb 24, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/22/23) – Load posts are down right now, but expect things to change once spring shipping season takes off. Details on that and the spot market as a whole with data and analysis courtesy of DAT. Plus, we preview next month’s Mid-America Trucking Show and highlight a special service being offered to truckers. And finally, OOIDA’s getting a new tour truck, meaning the arrival of an exciting adjustment period. 0:00 – Newscast 9:43 – Countdown to MATS 24:34 – Spot market update 39:17 – Birth o...
Feb 23, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/21/23) – Should you try to fight a citation from a U.S. DOT inspection, or just pay the fine and move on? Also, in an effort to help truckers get healthier and happier, a woman in Alabama has created a fitness program called Fit’s Possible Trucking. And finally, an Indiana bill dedicated to the split-speed differential is on the move. 0:00 – Newscast 9:43 – Hot topics 24:34 – Fit’s Possible Trucking 39:17 – Battle over Indiana split speed limit...
Feb 22, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/20/23) – Every couple of years, members of OOIDA have a chance to choose the people who will represent them on the Association’s Board of Directors. That time has come again, with five truck drivers vying for seats. Today, we’ll take an in-depth look at those running – including their views of some of the vital issues in the industry today – to give you the information you need to make an informed choice. Also, over the past several weeks, the FMCSA has taken several ELDs off its list of ...
Feb 21, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/17/23) – A new piece in Wired magazine takes a deep dive into trucking. It was written by Andrew Kay, who spent a good chunk of time talking with truckers at a truck stop, and then experienced what life is like on the road in the cab. He came away with a new perspective about the challenges truckers face day-in and day-out – and he joins us to talk about what he found. Also, what makes a bigger statement than the frontmost piece of equipment on your rig – your front bumper. While it may s...
Feb 18, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/16/23) – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants to change the SMS system for determining who is and who is not a high-risk motor carrier. And a new chief has been nominated to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also, Women in Trucking will soon have a new president and CEO. We’ll speak with the incoming and outgoing CEOs of the organization on today’s show. And more than a dozen bills offered at the Connecticut statehouse call for the state to eliminat...
Feb 17, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/15/23) – When it comes to regulation proposals in Washington, D.C., OOIDA has been fighting the good fight against bad ones – and advocating for good ones for decades. The number of trucks posted on the DAT One network spikes. Plus, there are quite a few new truck shows on the calendar this year, which raises some interesting concerns. 0:00 – Newscast. 9:43 – Fighting the good fight against bad regs. 24:34 – Spike in trucks posted. 39:17 – Truck show season approaching....
Feb 16, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/14/23) – A Georgia House committee is scheduled to discuss a bill to allow 90,000-pound trucks on roadways. Meanwhile, a bill moving through the Washington state Senate would give truck drivers operating throughout the state access to restroom facilities at shippers and receivers. Also, a series of electronic logging devices have been revoked from the FMCSA’s approved list. So what does that mean to the truckers who use them? And it’s not uncommon for a truck driver to put their own well-...
Feb 15, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/13/23) – When it comes to electronic logging devices there are some things to look out for. We’ll look into some of the red flags of ELDs. Also, insurance companies often get calls from people asking to pause their insurance plans, but that isn't often allowed. We’ll look at the impact canceling a policy can have and things you can do to save money. And over the past several weeks, the FMCSA has taken several ELDs off its list of compliant devices. But that raises some broader issues abou...
Feb 14, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/10/23) – The FMCSA allows truckers to appeal certain crashes that showed up on their CSA. However, that ability only applies in certain specific types of crashes. Also, seeing dogs and even cats in the cab of a truck is typical when you're at a truck stop, but seeing a kangaroo ... not so much. We’ll speak with a driver in Texas about his unique companion that captures the attention of nearly everyone he meets. And Marty Ellis is thinking a lot about rational environmentalism versus radic...
Feb 11, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/9/23) – A group of U.S. senators is seeking to stop an upcoming U.S. EPA regulation regarding emissions from large trucks. Meanwhile, the FMCSA is proposing a change to the rules regarding emergency declarations. Also, the life expectancy of a truck driver is a statistic that’s been brought up over the years in various publications, but is what we’ve heard correct? Land Line Magazine Managing Editor Jami Jones discussed the information and how it’s been a decades’ long fight to correct it...
Feb 10, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/8/23) – Indiana is one of a handful of states that has a different set of rules on the books for heavy trucks when it comes to the speed limit. We talk with the sponsor of a state House bill that would bring the speed limit back up for heavy trucks. Also, Super Bowl weekend is only days away. We’ll find out how that’s affected freight in today’s Market Update with DAT. And the Spirit of the American Trucker is getting a makeover. We’re talking a brand-new truck and a brand-new wrap. Marty...
Feb 09, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/7/23) – If you’re in trucking, you’re bound to experience a road hazard. We’ll have some tips on helping your tires cope with the unexpected. Also, truckers who run their own operations have to keep track of a bevy of statistics. One of those is the tender rejection rate. So what is that, how is it figured, and what does knowing it do for you? And measures in five states would revise autonomous truck rules and make other changes to accommodate driver-assistive truck platooning technology....
Feb 08, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/6/23) – Tuesday, the president will report on the state of the union, and part of the speech is expected to cover infrastructure. We’ll get an idea of what to expect and what it means on the ground from Bryce Mongeon of OOIDA’s Washington, D.C., office. Also, employee classification is a hot-button issue. Today, we’ll report on why that is and where OOIDA is in the fight against AB5. And the House Transportation and Infrastructure has new leadership, but they’re looking at fixing the same...
Feb 07, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/3/23) – The driver compensation model is broken. Michael Belzer, Ph.D., of Wayne State University joins us to talk about what needs to change before the driver pay issue is resolved. Also, from a company looking at its own employees to expand its pool of drivers to some cities that seriously need to work on their traffic problems, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And dashcams are a two-edged sword. If the camera faces out,...
Feb 04, 2023•50 min
LLN (2/2/23) – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for more information on automated driving systems before it proposes new rules. Also, OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh discusses his recent trip to Washington, D.C. Find out what topics he discussed and what he thinks the year will look like. And action at several statehouses around the country would revise speed limit rules, with some eliminating speed differentials and some increasing speeds for all vehicles. 0:0...
Feb 03, 2023•50 min
