Truck drivers play an essential role in the world economy, but life isn’t easy for them. Drivers face a wide variety of issues and challenges that affect both them and the industry as a whole. For example, trucker issues contributed to the driver shortage, as qualified drivers leave the industry because of low pay and difficult working conditions. Other truck driver challenges include issues related to health and wellness. Truckers must deal with a lack of exercise, poor diet, extended periods without bathroom breaks, eye strain, cramped conditions, poor sleep — not to mention the mental toll of being away from home and family for days at a time. Though many drivers earn good wages, the physical and mental stress isn’t always worth it to them.
Check back here for the latest news and insights on driver issues, or visit our Trucking Industry News archive to find additional information.
Fatigue may not play as much of a role in risky driving behaviors, but how long a commercial driver has been driving does, according to new research.
Sale of TFS hits a dispute over status of more than half the assets in the deal
Driver pleaded no contest to five counts of vehicular homicide, gets five consecutive one-year terms
In documents related to the case involving 16,000 drivers, Brooks suggests a bigger verdict or deal beyond the agreed-to $16.5 million might have tipped the truckload carrier into bankruptcy; PAM CFO rejects the suggestion.
After the revision of the June numbers, July preliminary trucking employment is less than where the market thought it was a month ago.
Even as trucking jobs rose, rail jobs declined
FHWA calls trucking parking a “major transportation safety problem.”
Canadian truckers report being turned away by doctors, dentists and other health providers if they don’t self-isolate for 14 days over COVID-19 fears.
Werner seeing 10 times greater rate of positive tests using hair versus urinalysis.
Industry has been working with FMCSA to ensure turfgrass was considered an ag commodity under federal rules.
OOIDA warns suspending federal excise tax would hit Highway Trust Fund.
A truck driver was awarded nearly $8 million in California after his leg was partially amputated following a forklift mishap.
Kentucky lumber processor filed for bankruptcy, leaving several flatbed carriers in the lurch for thousands in unpaid freight bills.
Trucking company cites benefits from new digital technology as key reason; gain in one key OR from the first quarter is 500 basis points
Most small-company truckers are equipped with ELDs despite exemptions.
Truck drivers still gripe about long detention times, equipment and adapting to new technology. But they speak positively about communication from their companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pilot Co. is joining a growing list of major truck stop chains, including Love’s Travel Stops and TravelCenters of America, that will start requiring all customers to wear face coverings this week to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Company launches an online training platform called MyTruckerLife to help provide relationship resources for professional truck drivers and their families.
Nearly 45,000 drivers predicted to be shut out in 2020 due to drugs and alcohol.
Using a third-party administrator is touted as a way to ward off big verdicts against trucking firms.
Brian Aoaeh continues a series of commentaries on technology-driven innovations in supply chains, logistics and trucking.
Workers to be covered stretch back to second half of 2012 through this year
Graft says on earnings call that by end of June, number of invoices being processed exceeded year-ago levels
Possible fines range from $13,000 to $130,000.
Camera-focused company branches out further, with sensor-driven systems that can notify truckers of dangers on the road
Patrick Bethelot, held on $275,000 bond, says he was planning ‘suicide by cop’ on Cincinnati-area interstate. Cops bring the rig to a stop with a .50-caliber bullet into the engine block of the truck.
Driver/dock worker was fired after leaving work early due to her period; two other XPO Black workers lose a second time
JHOS Logistics and Transportation has been ordered to pay a former driver $220,000 in back pay and damages and rehire him after OHSA states he was fired after raising safety concerns.
Authorities say driver caught while attempting to cross Lewiston Bridge into Canada.
Agency estimates $4 billion in cost savings from hours-of-service changes.
Gap in current regulations leaves truck drivers vulnerable
Embezzlement scheme at Parke Cox totaled roughly half a million dollars.
Driving experience — not age — had a greater impact on safety, according to study.
Strategy to move into new areas off its platform gets biggest investment ever in the company known primarily for its weigh station bypass service.
After prosecutors drop charges against trucker Prabjot Nagra, U.S. authorities continue to investigate how a truck wound up with $20 million worth of marijuana in its trailer at the U.S.-Canada border.
FMCSA safety committee will request crash data from Amazon delivery vans.
COVID-19 emergency HOS exemption extended another 30 days
Judge rules insurer needn’t defend trucking company owner in trafficking lawsuit
Speeding is the focus of CVSA’s annual week-long Operation Safe Driver inspection blitz, which starts Sunday, July 12.
Delays caused by civil unrest will not be considered in violation of regulations.
Judge dismisses criminal case against cross-border truck driver accused of attempting to smuggle $20 million worth of marijuana into the United States from Canada.
Annual insurance rates could surge 150% or more
Deal covers 300+ drivers over classification questions
Truckers will have easier access to COVID-19 tests under a new program by the Ontario government that brings free coronavirus screenings to a truck stop, a clinic, and select carrier locations.
Four key provisions are being hailed by state’s trucking association
dexFreight will add truck parking reservations from TruckPark to its platform and partner with the parking reservation provider on a driver-focused podcast.
Out-of-control insurance premiums are driving trucking operations out of business, but leading insurance experts say something can be done about them.
KeepTruckin’s new features provide better visibility into driving behavior and they enable fleet managers to remotely click images on the cab cameras.
A sortable spreadsheet that cuts right to the key areas the trucking sector wants to know
Carriers must continue random drug testing at 50% rate.
Werner sought hours-of-service exemption to help company upgrade its in-cab telematics.
30+ big trucking borrowers identified
More than 3,200 companies in the two main government classifications that comprise long-distance trucking received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in excess of $150,000, according to data released this morning […]
Funding for the extension will be the money that didn’t get sent out so far
Parent company Coca-Cola shutting the line by the end of August
Feds claim murder suspect Hirmoge fled to Utah, enrolled in C.R. England’s truck driving school, after fatal shooting in Georgia.
TIA supporting bill it says will close truck safety loophole.
Deluxe Express filed for bankruptcy protection, citing skyrocketing insurance rates, fatal crash.
Warehousing jobs soar, rail jobs sliced again
Also: warehouse jobs soared by 60k
Truck driver charged with attempting to smuggle $20 million of marijuana from Canada to the U.S. told investigators he didn’t know about the drugs in his trailer, court document shows.
$3.8 billion in U.S. trucking revenue at stake in U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight.
With upcoming changes to hours-of-service rules, drivers and fleets could see improved productivity, safer operation and fewer violations.
Extension of paycheck protection needs House OK, Trump signature
Industry hot topics were the focus of a recent discussion with FMCSA’s Jim Mullen and TCA’s David Heller, and some of the perspectives may surprise industry insiders.
Provision to raise insurance to $2 million included in legislation expected to be passed this week.
Safety groups, Teamsters seek delay in hours-of-service rule until FMCSA reviews concerns.
Incidents involved Pennsylvania State Police
U.S. Department of Labor indicates there will be more such actions in several states
Friend of a driver leased to Cardinal Transport lost a leg, and a legal battle ensued
U.S. border officers find nearly 9,500 pounds of marijuana during a truck inspection at the Canada-U.S. border, the largest in five years.
“Some people call them tourists, but as far as I can tell, they are out to scare the hell out of me, so I consider every damned one of them as a terrorist,” author Ed Miller recalls a driver telling him. This and more stories from Miller’s life in trucking are recounted in a new book.
Payouts begin flowing to truck drivers from Celadon Group’s Hyndman Transport months after forcing the bankrupt trucking company to court in Canada.
COVID-19 delayed CVSA’s annual International Roadcheck blitz in May.
Facing possible FMCSA action, brokers contend responsibility for nonpayment of motor carrier claims should fall on financial backers.
TQL’s ‘aggressive legal team’ fighting class-action lawsuits on all fronts.
United States Transportation Alliance plans to keep pressure on lawmakers on issues affecting truckers.
Proper routing is crucial for trucking companies of all sizes. Poor routing costs time, which equates to money in trucking. Here are some reasons to consider automating route planning.
Some shippers and some specific invoices can be chosen for accelerated payments, but not necessarily across the board
Trucker Glenn Green was proud to serve on the front lines as an essential provider of refrigerated goods. However, he’s not feeling the love after his COVID-19 workers’ compensation claim was denied. Photo: Glenn Green
Vast coalition of trucking-related groups and companies wants 12% fee to disappear through next year
New loans under PPP were less than $2 billion last week, and there’s plenty left on the table
Mo-Vac’s terminal manager stated that truck drivers, including Fabian Escobedo, were ordered to work at least 100 hours per week and sometimes worked 19-24 hours straight.
Car ended up under big rig, but Ace and truck’s driver win in court.
FMCSA officials clarified HOS rules for National Tank Truck Carriers.
Expiration pushed to Sept. 30 as need for new drivers continues.
Brian Fielkow writes about what companies in logistics and freight should be doing to end racial discrimination and inequality.
Information will be displayed through telematics for Indiana and Iowa
By not nickel-and-diming through hidden fees, the Axle Fuel Card allows trucking companies to keep more hard-earned money in their pockets.
Possible issue in its debt profile: pulling down a revolving credit line at the start of the pandemic and having it still counted as a liability
Drivers with expired licenses given relief until September 30
“A company’s bottom line is going to be impacted more by the way they can improve efficiencies rather than top-line growth,” said Cindy Nelson.
Tenstreet’s trucking-specific marketing tools connect carriers with drivers throughout the recruiting process
Treating carriers with respect while removing waste from the supply chain
Nuverra completes first phase of a pilot on water disposal, soon after it kicked off a three-year deal with another blockchain provider.
Roadmaster Group doled out nearly $600,000 to drivers who risked their health to deliver the nation’s freight during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trucking group wants to see gun legislation influence company weapons policy
Court ruling was needed for disposal of mostly reefer carrier to proceed
Steve Burks was a truck driver in an earlier professional capacity. He also earned his bachelor’s degree, his master’s degree and then his Ph.D. He’s a professor of economics at […]
The safety of all motorists is paramount. An organizaton that is focused on the safety of truckers is Together for Safer Roads. Learn more about its mission and how it works.
