Truck Driver Issues

PRO Act’s provisions mirror California law upending independent contractor status.

Proposal would create competitive grant program for projects that add capacity.

WEX said that a data limit issue within its IBM Informix system was the cause of fuel cards being shut off across the country today.

Problems continued into the afternoon for customers of WEX fuel cards, including its EFS and FleetOne cardholders, as a system outage rendered cards useless at fuel pumps.

The gig economy is one more challenge for truck drivers.

Truck drivers using EFS fuel cards have been unable to fuel their vehicles as a systems outage has shut down the cards, according to multiple reports.

Opposition from safety advocates could mean rough road to inclusion in highway bill.

CRST, U.S. Xpress also support petition to review decision awarding $54.6 million to drivers.

A Texas jury recently awarded nearly $7.4 million to a man who was seriously injured when a truck driver hauling an oversized load veered off route and struck a bridge, sending metal debris into his vehicle.

Kayla Matthews writes about options if you are interested in starting your own trucking company.

Agency confirms it will credit ‘query’ balances in certain cases.

Electronic gadgets like smartphones in the cab lead to driver distraction, and driver assistance technologies like ADAS appear to add a new dimension to that behavior.

AscendTMS is the first TMS to allow users to reserve parking for drivers inside the system, thanks to a collaboration with TruckPark.

Upgrading docking, a new Northeast hub to come and the “weekend advantage” all played a role in the improvements

It’s a bold plan and FreightWaves’ Mark Solomon has plenty of experience covering XPO to give us a unique perspective.

Startup Baton Trucking believes it can eliminate waste and detention through a drop yard network.

It’s the same story for carriers and shippers: up like a rocket and down like a feather

‘No regrets’ as truck driver leaves California, citing hostile business climate

Hey hey hey, welcome to the workin’ weekend! We never hesitate to jump right in and hit you with the headlines: TA Logistics claims Celadon was insolvent in late November […]

Truck owner claims his employer and Amazon worked him “like a rented mule.”

Walmart argues that jury took things too literally in awarding back pay to California drivers

Agency recommends repeating queries to ensure compliance.

Difficulty communicating instructions while in the cab cited as safety risk.

Rob Moseley is an attorney at Moseley Marciniak in South Carolina. He’s defends trucking companies in the courtroom, and he’s watched as verdicts against trucking companies have been soaring. Is […]

FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller writes about methods to lower diesel fuel expenses for large and small trucking companies.

(Updated with comments from Love’s spokeswoman on size of growth in 2019). Love’s Travel Stops’ growth plans this year are in line to slightly more aggressive than those of 2019 […]

An overview of driver feedback trends found high rates of satisfaction with co-workers and staffing issues.

The expansion is roughly in line with those of recent years.

The order will stay in place until the CTA case action is concluded.

DAT has sent out tweets indicating no ETA on a full return to service.

Ben Thrower examines the issues surrounding California’s AB-5, which impacts truckers who are independent contractors.

Incentivizing logistics yard spaces and zoned industrial capacities to rent out their vacant spots for truckers could help increase supply.

Consistently meeting expectations goes a long way toward keeping drivers on board.

We gear up this week with a man charged on Thursday with shooting a truck driver on I-269 outside Memphis, Tennessee, after an in-cab video captured the suspected killer. Violence […]

Advocacy groups differ on effectiveness of public and private financing to meet high demand.

It isn’t clear how long the temporary order will be in effect but plaintiffs seem happy that it will be replaced with something longer-lasting.

Chris Henry runs fleet profitability benchmarking and analytics for FreightWaves and facilitates the TCA’s TPP program. If you are interested in benchmarking your fleet’s performance with the best operators, join […]

Seth Holm of FreightWaves Freight Intel Group writes about the impact of nuclear verdicts on the trucking industry. Will 2020 be a tipping point for these huge awards?

The principles of Environmental/Social/Governance are going to be a factor in the future, according to Morgan Stanley

Happy top of the weekend! Thanks for making us a part of the backhaul of your week, and boy do we have some news for you. First, we hit the […]

Legal battle in California is pulling trucking in different directions

A number of readers responded to Brian Aoaeh’s 12/26/19 “Commentary: Trucking industry observations heading into 2020.” His current commentary features some of those responses and information from Anthony Campo, a trucking industry veteran.

Digitalization of roadside assistance services can help fleets in not just getting immediate and seamless assistance but at flat-rate premiums.

This time it’s a state court that says the FAAAA act blocks AB5 from regulating trucking employment

Lumper payments can tie up cash for weeks as carriers wait for reimbursement, but Convoy is now automating the process, guaranteeing payment with the touch of a button.

There are plenty of individual interests likely to want enforcement of IMO 2020. But is the market incentivizing noncompliance?

No specific trucking reference in the governor’s State of the State, but calls current situation a “scam.”

The “New Year’s Eve surprise” may have been a first step toward getting the California trucking industry out from under the AB5 legislation that will have serious consequences for the […]

The study looked at 85 different technologies that can help drive fuel efficiency.

Employers allowed to continue driver hires while agency corrects connection issues.

The loss of a DHL contract has led to a New York carrier issuing layoff notices to 48 employees.

Federal appeals court panel upholds district court ruling that Walmart must pay California drivers additional wages for non-driving time

The wording in the temporary injunction blocking enforcement of AB5 in trucking leads plaintiffs to think they’ll win the entire battle.

Some of the most congested roads in Texas are not necessarily all that bad for truckers.

Sleep apnea is one of the more than 80 different sleep disorders that can be life-threatening if left untreated. ‘Apnea’ is Ancient Greek meaning ‘without breath’, which is at the heart of why this sleep disorder is so deadly.

The restraining order suggests the court looks kindly on the argument that a federal law preempts AB5.

Freight load board is back in service after ransomware, which was more frequent in 2019.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is trying to take its so-far-unsuccessful battle over Pennsylvania tolls to the U.S. Supreme Court.  At the heart of the effort by the OOIDA […]

Database of test results seen as rate booster while unseated trucks pose risk to operations.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller writes about the issues the trucking industry dealt with in 2019 and what is ahead in 2020.

Change from 25% on Jan. 1 estimated to raise annual industry costs by $50-70 million.

The winter season witnesses a lot of truck crashes and injuries, making it essential for drivers and carriers to find ways to reduce risk while hauling during inclement weather.

Some of the drivers were told they could return as independent contractors if they purchased their own trucks.

Drivers passing through a truck stop in Portland, Oregon talk holiday plans and a profession in flux.

Update: Major load board remains out of service since last Friday with no update as to when it will be online.

Kayla Matthews writes about best practices to manage fleets during the holidays.

A recent big corporate writedown in the oil and gas sector was a big deal. But in this week’s Drilling Deep podcast, host John Kingston discusses that maybe it isn’t […]

Drivers looking for work or changing jobs should register before Jan. 6.

Move to pass legislation has ground to halt amid wider outcry from other industries over independent contractor limits.

The National Association of the Deaf believes a federal requirement denying CDLs to individuals with hearing impairments should be rescinded.

Assembly Bill 5 limits companies from classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees to save operational expenses.

Delay to provide more time to develop proper IT platform.

225 employers have posted close to 500 jobs and counting.

Last Friday, December 6, FreightWaves reported that Celadon intended to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy and now the company has made it official. On the surface, it sounds like Chapter 11 […]

The sudden closure of Celadon has left thousands of lives impacted. To help those employees find work, FreightWaves has created a free job board where employees can post resumes and recruiters and fleets can post jobs.

Legislation demands OMB and HHS estimate rule publication date.

Celadon Group was Scrooge for its drivers with the Christmas holidays around the corner, but the trucking community is stepping up to help in the season of giving.

Swift drivers react to driver leader’s instructions to chain up and drive in inclement weather.

Automatic onboard recording device users can expect no leniency after Dec. 16.

Ellen Voie, the CEO of Women in Trucking, spoke on the issues that female truckers in particular face when they are looking for parking spots.

This white paper examines ways to combat detention by looking at smarter detention management solutions to alleviate bottlenecks.

The survey covers just the states of the Southeast but the numbers are still sobering,.

Legislation would require FMCSA to step up efforts supporting women

This is the final installment in a series of videos produced by FreightWaves and SmartDrive, recorded at the recent SmartDrive Customer Conference in Atlanta. FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston discussed several […]

Connectivity is crucial to success in trucking. Darren Prokop writes about various aspects of connectivity that make trucking more transparent and efficient.

Canadian airlines, already facing a pilot shortage, now face higher labor costs associated with new pilot work rules.

AI-powered driver behavior monitoring startup Nauto has launched a real-time, in-vehicle solution that helps reduce driver distraction on the road through targeted alerts and coaching.

Splitting up enforcement deadlines for the rule could cost millions in benefits.

This is another in a series of videos produced by FreightWaves and SmartDrive, recorded at the recent SmartDrive Customer Conference in Atlanta. FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston discussed several key issues […]

The restructuring is keeping 2,500 jobs in place.

Funding bill leaves out protections sought by U.S. House.

A leading economist on the question of driver economics will join us on FreightWaves Radio.

Backers seek to put ballot initiative to state voters with aim to redefine independent contractor drivers.

Werner, UPS Freight among initial companies participating in pilot.

Engines in Australian trucks may have been modified to allow them to break speed limits. Australian police have been reading premises across the country. In other Down Under News: APE eats up AHG; new boss for Orcoda; mobile phone driving surveillance laws; broken bridges; accident black spots; corporate debt.

The latest in a series of collaborative videos and commentary between FreightWaves and SmartDrive.

This is another in a series of videos produced by FreightWaves and SmartDrive, recorded at the recent SmartDrive Customer Conference in Atlanta. FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston discussed several key issues […]

Brexit is now only two weeks away but the dangers facing truckers and shippers continue to mount.

It has been a dramatic week in Australian trucking: strip club bus-truck crash; nine months of jail; massive infrastructure works; trucker death; call for mandatory brakes; beer crates. And more!

What’s next at FMCSA after Ray Martinez departs? Tune in to FW Radio.