We’ll get some basic insight into what truckers should do in light of the Baltimore bridge collapse. The Truck Leasing Task Force sought opinions about lease-purchase agreements at its most recent meeting and learned that they’re ruining livelihoods. Also, the last and only 2025 Peterbilt 389C is up for grabs, and all for a good cause. And a lawmaker in Georgia is working to overturn a measure that allows someone to file a direct-action lawsuit against a trucker’s insurance company. 0:00 – Bridg...
Mar 26, 2024•51 min
For some time, an advisory committee has been studying possible underride requirements for large trucks. Now, OOIDA is pointing out changes that threaten the panel’s work. Also, we’ll have an update on an effort to fix a major highway bottleneck in Oregon and on efforts to reform the state’s weight-mile tax. And what do you do if your MVR, PSP or CSA records contain an error? Alex Clark and David Grimes of CDL Legal explain your options. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Project targeting I-5 bottleneck f...
Mar 25, 2024•51 min
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will change its out-of-service criteria on April 1. We’ll find out what changes were made and why. Also, we’ll have a roundtable with the folks from Land Line Magazine on the week’s news, including the Truck Leasing Task Force, British Columbia’s crackdown on infrastructure crashes, speed limiter legislation and more. And changes to OOIDA’s Fighting For Truckers website will make it easier than ever to contact lawmakers about trucking issues. 0:00 – Newscas...
Mar 22, 2024•51 min
The Biden administration has just released new emission regulations for cars and other light- and medium-duty vehicles. But heavy-vehicle regulations are soon to follow. And a city councilman discusses efforts to stop the truck strikes at the “truck-eating bridge” in Kansas City, Mo. Also, Marty Ellis has noticed some changes in how detours are handled, and he doesn’t think they’re good. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Coming soon: Even tighter emission rules 24:31 – City works to solve ‘truck-eating br...
Mar 21, 2024•51 min
Carter Vieth of ACT Research explains how private fleet expansion and other factors are keeping the freight market depressed. But he does see brighter days ahead. Also, what do you do if you look at tax forms and other documents, and something doesn’t look right? We’ll get some advice from Shasta May of MBA Tax and Bookkeeping. And the spot market is showing signs of moving in the right direction, but the full impact of spring on freight is still a little way off. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Private...
Mar 20, 2024•51 min
A research organization in Texas says that the trucking fuel of the future may not be fuel cells or electricity – it may be hydrogen combustion. Also, six states have been considering changes to their rules for idling by trucks and other vehicles. And some other states are looking at expanding truck parking, while one wants to increase fines for illegal truck parking. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – A different kind of hydrogen-fueled truck engine 39:55 – States eye changing idling rules...
Mar 19, 2024•51 min
A lot of people assume that using CBD – or cannabidiol, an extract from the hemp plant – is safe for truckers. But is that really the case? Also, we’ll speak with a chapter of Crime Stoppers about how the program works and how it’s assisted law enforcement over the years. And later this week, tens of thousands of truckers will gather in Louisville, Ky., for the largest industry event of the year: the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center. We’ll have a preview. 0:00 – Newscast 10:...
Mar 18, 2024•51 min
An advisory committee made its views known this week on whether older trailers should be required to be retrofitted with underride guards. Also, the Technology and Maintenance Council held its annual meeting in New Orleans, discussing everything from diesel technology to artificial intelligence and more. And truck parking is a problem nationwide. But now, some states are stepping up to try to solve the crisis, the latest being Pennsylvania. We’ll explain what solutions are being considered. 0:00...
Mar 15, 2024•51 min
FMCSA is planning a study on sexual assault and harassment in trucking. OOIDA has a few ideas about what should be done, and how. Also, the freight market feels as though it’s running on empty. Brent Hutto at Truckstop discusses the condition of rates and takes a look at some of the top regions and lanes from last week. Then, the Mid-America Trucking Show is right around the corner, and OOIDA will host two education sessions. We speak with the hosts of those sessions about what they'll be sharin...
Mar 14, 2024•51 min
Speed limiters, the bathroom bill and AV trucks were just a few topics of discussion during Lewie Pugh's recent visit to Washington, D.C. Also, truckers are talking with Marty Ellis about problems getting parts and ELD troubles. And DAT is tracking some possible signs of life on the spot market. Could the long-awaited turnaround finally be coming? 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Pugh talks speed limiters, bathroom access and more during D.C. trip 24:31 – Parts problems, ELD troubles on truckers’ minds 3...
Mar 14, 2024•51 min
Some states are considering action to limit nuclear verdicts. But in Illinois, lawmakers are going the other direction – which has some concerned. And a photo project called Sisters of the Road that features 40 female truck drivers is making its way through the U.S. Also, several states are undertaking efforts to reform towing practices within their borders – and with predatory towing being an important topic in trucking, you may well be affected. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Illinois goes the wrong ...
Mar 13, 2024•51 min
A previous version on the federal government’s independent contractor rule included a provision that opened the door to carriers requiring owner-operators to use speed limiters. Also, truck parking, driverless trucks and broker fraud are a few trucking issues that are being discussed in mainstream media. We speak with OOIDA's communications team about the Association’s take on the issues and the importance of having our voice heard. Then, fraud and scam artists have started to work the load boar...
Mar 12, 2024•51 min
Confused by the Department of Labor’s new worker classification rule? You’re not alone. The folks from Land Line Magazine clear things up. Also, from a fire crew that rescued a trucker dangling from a bridge to a federal agency whose certification process is creating problems for truckers, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. And CVSA has announced the dates for its annual Roadcheck safety blitz. We’ll get an idea of what truckers ne...
Mar 09, 2024•51 min
An FMCSA task force on lease-purchase agreements has a meeting set at MATS. We’ll discuss what the panel hopes to do and how you can participate. Also, when it comes to getting a ticket, high pressure and stress may lead you to pay it right away. The guys at Road Law have some advice on what you should do instead for a better outcome. And new idling laws are being considered here and there, but one in New York has the attention of a lot of truckers who visit Marty Ellis. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – ...
Mar 08, 2024•51 min
The Tennessee DOT has reversed course on split speed limits for passenger vehicles and commercial trucks on a 22-mile stretch of Interstate 81. Also, two communities in two different states recently gave two middle fingers to truck drivers just looking for a safe place to park. And the DAT load board saw an increase last week in load posts, but overall rates for vans and reefers decreased once again. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Tennessee ends split speed limits on I-81 24:31 – Two places say no to t...
Mar 07, 2024•51 min
Wisconsin lawmakers have taken action to stop nuclear verdicts, and other states are addressing the issue, as well. Meanwhile, nine states are working on left lane legislation. Also, a situation has come up that has serious potential consequences – drivers being stranded by their carriers. We’ll discuss that, plus scam text messages and how to pull an MVR. And if your truck is going to be parked for a considerable amount of time, you may have wondered about pausing your insurance policy. 0:00 – ...
Mar 06, 2024•51 min
OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh is headed to our nation’s capital – and both speed limiters and bathroom access are on his agenda. Also, a Florida bill is taking aim a predatory towing, both for trucks and for cars. We’ll hear from Florida state Sen. Keith Perry. And is electric power a practical alternative to diesel? Mike Kucharski of JKC Trucking has spoken out on the topic to national media outlets – and he’s not optimistic about the tech. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Florida effort tar...
Mar 05, 2024•51 min
The Prove It Act would force federal agencies to think about the “little guy” when crafting new regulations. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brad Finstad of Minnesota, joins the program. Also, looking ahead at speed limiter proposals, electric trucks and AEBs, we sit down with Land Line Magazine staff to discuss this month's issue. And the 2024 independent contractor rule is set to become final next month. We speak with OOIDA's advocacy counsel about what this could mean and how it could impact your op...
Mar 02, 2024•51 min
A bill designed to prevent nuclear verdicts is close to becoming law in Wisconsin. We’ll hear from the author of the House version of the bill. Also, FMCSA is asking truckers for their input on sexual assault and sexual harassment in trucking and is gathering lease-purchase agreements. And Marty Ellis has been hearing a story that a lot of us have heard for a very long time – about brokers making life difficult for truckers. In this case, the culprit is fine print in the broker-carrier agreement...
Mar 01, 2024•51 min
Load-to-truck ratios are approaching an all-time low. We’ll speak with Robert Rouse of DAT about similarities between now and how things looked during the pandemic. Also, with the advent of LEDs, you can do all kinds of things with lights that were never possible before. We’ll discuss the options. And the Minnesota Trucking Association has named its driver of the year for 2023 – a man with more than 30 years’ experience who has worked hard both on and off the clock. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – The c...
Feb 29, 2024•51 min
Trucking interests in Oregon contend that the state’s weight-mile tax is too high, violating the state’s constitution. Now, lawmakers in the state are discussing how to fix that. Also, respiratory illnesses have always been a problem, but now, three of those illnesses are going around at the same time. We’ll have what you need to know. And one of the most basic principles of American justice is that we are innocent until proven guilty. But if your case is in civil court instead of criminal, that...
Feb 28, 2024•51 min
Truckers are concerned about California’s Clean Truck Check. What is the state doing, and how are truckers experiencing it? We’ll have some answers. Also, the Mid-America Trucking Show is right around the corner. We’ll speak with MATS President Toby Young about this year’s event and what attendees can expect. And we may again be headed toward a government shutdown. So what’s the cause of that, and how might it affect the trucking industry? We’ll find out. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – California’s Cle...
Feb 27, 2024•51 min
The OOIDA Foundation is out with the results of two new surveys – one on detention time, the other on freight rates. Andrew King of the OOIDA Foundation stops by to discuss the topics. Also, the final push to keep FMCSA from imposing a speed limiter mandate has begun. We’ll get an update on that from Jami Jones and Mark Schremmer of Land Line Magazine. And do you view trucking as a job or a career? Marty Ellis has seen both kinds of truckers – and he has a few thoughts on the subject. 0:00 – New...
Feb 24, 2024•51 min
A massive outage has hit AT&T customers nationwide, which has implications for ELD users using the network. OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh and Tom Crowley walk us through what we need to know. Also, FMCSA plans to study detention time and how it affects trucking – but the agency first needs to gather some information. Then, CVSA is in the middle of a weeklong initiative in Canada to raise awareness about human trafficking. And lawmakers in five states are working on solutions to the truck parking proble...
Feb 23, 2024•51 min
John Hausladen says a new, comprehensive report about the electrification movement highlights significant issues that must be ironed out. Also, David Proctor has taken his show, called “Grabbing the Hammer Lane,” on the road. We speak with him about his new endeavor and this play telling a trucker’s story. And for the second week in a row, DAT has seen the lowest load volume in the past eight years. Coming up, we’ll talk to Robert Rouse about what DAT will be watching as we get closer to spring....
Feb 22, 2024•51 min
Eric De Campos of the National Insurance Crime Bureau discusses predatory towing and efforts to combat the problem in the state of Florida. Also, tax time is quickly approaching, and truckers ought to be gathering what they need in order to file by the deadline. But sometimes, you don’t receive everything you should for that task. And recently, the Department of Labor proposed a new way to determine who is an employee or an independent contractor. Congress may intervene, but OOIDA wants somethin...
Feb 21, 2024•51 min
Support is growing in our nation’s capital for two bills that have big implications for trucking – one that would stop a new speed limiter requirement and another that would give truckers access to bathrooms at shippers and receivers. Also, shopping for insurance will never top the list of “fun things to do,” but it doesn’t need to be quite so painful. And you may remember the case of a truck driver who flew to Arizona hoping to buy a truck at auction – only to have his $40,000 seized by law enf...
Feb 20, 2024•51 min
Doug Smith is often the voice of reason on the Advisory Committee on Underride Protections. He talks about how it’s going and if there’s a compromise ahead. Also, getting a ticket can be stressful, but fighting that ticket and being required to appear in court can make things even more difficult. And truckers often are known for stopping to help others in need. But sometimes, it’s the trucker who is the person in need. We’ll talk with two Iowa DOT workers who stepped up to help. 0:00 – Newscast ...
Feb 17, 2024•51 min
Lewie Pugh has traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss speed limiters, truck parking and more. We’ll find out why face-to-face meetings are important. Also, FMCSA is working on a new method for determining safety fitness – and OOIDA has some ideas of what the agency should not do in creating that new standard. Then, Marty Ellis describes an encounter he had with one of the new electric trucks out on the road. 0:00 – Newscast 10:00 – Pugh covers speed limiters, parking and more with lawmakers 24...
Feb 16, 2024•51 min
New federal reporting requirements meant to prevent money laundering will have a big impact on small businesses. We’ll have what you need to know. Also, a long-running court case involving who is an employee and who is an independent contractor in trucking finally has been settled, nearly a decade and a half since it started. And it's been a rough start to the year for the spot market. We’ll discuss how this past week went and find out what demand will look like as we move into the spring. 0:00 ...
Feb 15, 2024•51 min
