May 17, 2019 • Carriers

Industry Update - May 17, 2019

Industry Update - May 17, 2019

By Jeremy Feucht

Did you Know?

We are just under 7 months away from the final deadline of the ELD mandate. The grandfather clause that allowed drivers to continue to use their AOBRDs will expire on December 16, 2019.

Trucking tip of the Week

We are seeing record amounts of rainfall across the US. While stopping a big rig is difficult enough on dry roads, add in wet pavement after a hot spell, and vehicles with the best tires and breaks can have trouble stopping.

Autonomous Vehicles

More trouble for the autonomous vehicle industry as a Tesla was involved in another fatal accident. The investigation results have become available in the fatal wreck and it has been determined that the autopilot was engaged but did not detect a semi. On March 1, a Tesla collided with the semi at about 68 mph while crossing a highway in Delray Beach, FL killing the driver of the Tesla. Events like this will further delay autonomous trucks from entering the industry.

Tariffs

Tariffs have been a common theme recently, but we may see a change to that. The US has agreed to lift tariffs on Mexico and Canada in regard to steel and aluminum that is manufactured in those countries. Further helping the trucking industry is that the agreement also includes the removal of retaliatory tariffs placed on US goods by Mexico and Canada. The removal of these tariffs should help reduce the costs to consumers and increase margins for the manufacturers which in turn should help stabilize or even increase rates paid to drivers.

FMCSA Seeking Comments

Last year, the FMCSA requested comments for a pilot program allowing those 18-20 years old with military experience to drive interstate. This week, the FMCSA is now requesting comments from anyone who would like to have their voice heard on allowing those 18-20 years old and without military experience to drive interstate. Currently those 18-20 can drive big rigs commercially, they just can only drive intrastate. If you would like to read the request by the FMCSA and comment, you can do so here. Comments must be received by July 15, 2019.

Tagstrucking CDL FMCSA USA Industry Update Did you Know Trucking Tips ELD AOBRD Autonomous Vehicles Tesla Interstate Intrastate Tariffs Mexico Canada Rain stopping breaking

Trucker Path Supports the Queens of the Road Awards [p]Trucker Path, America’s most popular app in the trucking industry is supporting the Fourth Annual <a href="http://www.realwomenintrucking.com/lady-trucker-cruise-events/queen-road-awards/">Queens of the Road Awards</a> in collaboration with REAL Women In Trucking, Inc. (RWIT)[/p] [quote]"This award was inspired by Women who have worked as truck drivers and carry with them knowledge that they share with others unselfishly. These are Women who have struggled to “re-invent” themselves, overcame impediments and generously “Give Back” to those who are struggling to find their way." - RWIT[/quote] [p]Three women have been named Queens of the Road by the REAL Women in Trucking. The awarding ceremony of the Queens of the Road Awards will be held over the weekend of August 27-31 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2020 Queen of the Road award recipients are Kristy Mathews, Edwina Webb, and Vonnie Whitemagpie.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw1.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Kristy Mathews (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw3.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Edwina Webb (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw2.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Vonnie Whitemagpie (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [p]Trucker Path will be giving a complementary Gold Membership to the Queens of the Road awardees. This will give them access to advanced trucking tools and features to help them in their day to day driving.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw4.jpeg" alt=""] [p][b]About Real Women In Trucking[/b][/p] [p]REAL Women In Trucking is an organization of women truckers that promotes safety by educating the public about unsafe truck driver training and creating a network of support for women entering trucking. By creating a reliable resource that promotes transparency, they are able to mentor qualified women who wish to become commercial drivers and connect them to quality employers and services that will benefit them.[/p] [p][b]About Trucker Path[/b][/p] [p]Trucker Path is America's largest data driven and community-based trucking and navigation app. Trucker Path enables you to join over 1,000,000 truck drivers who share real-time truck stop information, parking availability, and even weigh station statuses, saving everyone time and gas money when they plan their routes. [/p] [p]Thousands of truckers use Trucker Path to find truck stops, parking, weigh station information, fuel pricing, and get truck-optimized routes. [/p] [p]Trucker Path is a leader in delivering advanced technology with over 2 million installs and is the highest rated app in the industry on both Google Play and the App Store.[/p] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [button-green href="http://vip.truckerpath.com/gold-member?utm_source=email&utm_medium=rwitpress"]Try Trucker Path Premium FREE for 14 Days[/button-green]

Aug 13, 2020 • Carriers

Understanding Team Truck Driving [p]Trucking is a hectic job that entails adhering to DOT / HOS regulations which ultimately means you need to stop at some point to comply with the maximum driving hours. With these regulations some truckers often opt to drive with a partner to maximize efficiency. Team truck driving allows one driver to rest while the other one drives. The drivers can switch places with each other multiple times over a journey so that more distance can be covered while time is saved. [/p] [p]While some truckers love this concept, others prefer to drive solo. In any case, team driving has its perks, and they are significant enough not to be overlooked. [/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> [p][b]How Does Driving With a Partner Work? [/b][/p] [p]The job is pretty straightforward. One driver drives while the other rests, eats, and sleeps. Each driver has their own duty-time set on a schedule, so there are no arguments regarding shift timings. This significantly reduces the time needed to haul loads from one point to another, and hence that results in better pay. Both drivers receive the benefits of the entire job even when they are spending half their time doing it.[/p] [p]It is easy to judge from the brief discussion above that team driving has its benefits, but it also has its disadvantages. [/p] [p][b]Advantages of Team Trucking [/b][/p] [p]It should be clear by now that for people who love to socialize and work at the same time, team truck driving is the best job to have. You rarely get bored, you always have a partner to keep you entertained and you don’t have to share meals with strangers while you are sitting at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere. But these are just a few perks. Trucking with a partner can result in a lot more advantages. [/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>More Available Jobs </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]Trucking with a partner is like having opened up a new skill that qualifies you and your partner to apply for jobs that would otherwise be unavailable to you if each of you were driving solo. Trucking companies like to save time and love efficiency, which is why they admire the concept of team driving. They are willing to pay you more just so you deliver the goods faster. Moreover, team trucking is a great stepping stone for you if you want to go solo in the future. Partnering up with an experienced campaigner will allow you to access high-paid jobs with relatively zero experience. Once you have the necessary hours and skill needed to go solo, you can end terms with your partner and start your gig.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-2.jpg" alt=""] <li><strong>Consistent Income </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]Team driving is a more attractive package for trucking companies. They know they can rely on a team to deliver faster than a solo driver. They say two heads are better than one and that sometimes holds true for trucking. If there are two drivers, there will be more driving than resting and that would mean hopping from one assignment to another. All in all, you will be making more money and that too consistently.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Disadvantages of Team Trucking [/b][/p] [p]While the advantages are tempting, especially for an upcoming young driver, some veterans prefer to drive alone, and they have some good reasons for it. [/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>The Profits Are Split </strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]The term team driving is simple to understand. You drive as a team, and that means you equally share the spoils between each other. So while the idea of trucking with a partner seems tempting, it is not might not be feasible in the long-run, especially if you are in it for the money.[/p] <h2></h2> <li><strong>Undesirable Partner</strong> </li> <h2></h2> [p]Let's face it. It is not easy to spend a considerable amount of time with another person in a small space, especially if you don't like them. Your partner has to be entertaining or compatible with your level of thinking. If not, it can be very hard to pass time or trust your teammate with the job at hand.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/TP-BLOG-TeamTruckDriving-3.jpg" alt=""] <li><strong>Trouble Sleeping</strong></li> <h2></h2> [p]As a truck driver, you have been trained not to fall asleep while driving long distances. And now, you have to fall asleep once your shift ends when your partner takes over the wheel. This could be challenging especially if you are not used to sleeping when needed to. Also, you might need to get used to sleeping while listening to some up beat music while your partner drives.[/p] <h2></h2> [p][b]Closing Thoughts [/b][/p] [p]Team truck driving is a highly attractive opportunity for new drivers who are looking to add miles and for old drivers who are looking for a partner since they are unable to drive solo. The pay is not that good, but the work is consistent. So team truck driving is recommended until you feel you have the experience to drive your semi or if you are a husband and wife team who love spending time on the road and enjoy an adventure more than the pay. Are you a team driver? Do you have tips for people who want to try team driving? Let us know on the comments.[/p] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Aldous Aldwin[/b][/p]

Nov 20, 2020 • Carriers

MATS 2019 Recap

Mar 31, 2019 • Carriers