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.
Truck drivers hauling in the state of New York will not see ELD enforcement until state regulators finish getting the rule on the books.
Drivers most often commented on equipment issues, logistics, people, pay, and communication on the WorkHound platform in 2018. The platform compiles anonymous driver comments.
Everyone knew the quarter was weaker than it had been. The question is how much. Stock prices have reflected a significant slowdown.
Fleets are increasingly turning to video to help exonerate drivers of wrongdoing and finding that a side benefit is the coaching opportunity video provides to improve risky driving behaviors.
Hours of sleep are critical to truck driver safety and to driver retention. The “science of sleep’“ in the context of truck drivers is examined in this article.
Transflo used its slot during the MarketWaves 18 Demo Day to showcase how its app’s new user interface, along with the broader Transflo ecosystem can be used effectively to reduce time during the lifecycle of a load.
As administrators for the Black Smoke Matters group on Facebook worked to get a handle on the sudden explosion of members in the group, one administrator announced he is stepping away from the page and the group has posted what it is calling “Truckers Declarations for the 2019 Shutdown” on its website.
The states are at different points in their adoption of the program, but some of them are showing the way in what can be done.
What Northam supports is along the same lines as the recommendation of a recently-appointed commission on the heavily-traveled north/south highway.
Trucking companies could be exposed to increased liability while a challenge to FMCSA’s hours-of-service preemption in California is pending.
The udelv autonomous delivery vehicle, with an electric range of about 60 miles, will enter a pilot program with XL Parts in Houston.
While onboard with the group’s goals, not all truckers seem happy with the approach Black Smoke Matters is taking to achieve them.
Australian trucking continues to prove fatally dangerous to drivers with a death rate in Australian road transport nearly six times greater than the national industrial average.
A combination of tolls that a commission says will be cheaper than other states, plus an “auto pass,” are seen as providing enough revenue to fund the needed improvements.
Law aims to help shippers avoid potential liability; But in an industry with many fly-by-night operators, getting monies owed still a challenge.
ELDs have been required for the majority of the industry for more than a year now, but there are still some that do not have to comply until Dec. 16, 2019. A look back at ELDs, and what the next deadline means.
Chassis management and appointment times seen as targets for fixes as Los Angeles grapples with container delays.
Riverside Transport is making strides toward helping drivers achieve better health in 2019. The carrier, which prizes itself on its driver first culture, offers drivers access to gym memberships and nutrition education to help them make better food choices.
Black Smoke Matters, a group formed by truckers, is planning a nationwide shutdown on April 12 to protest several issues facing truckers.
But President Trump still hopeful a deal can be done; tariffs costing both sides billions, and truckers plan one-day labor action for April.
Telematics provider seeks to integrate data into easily consumable format for driver coaching.
Fatigue is a big driver-safety issue. SmartCap is wearable technology that helps drivers to monitor and manage their fatigue levels.
FMCSA has ruled that California can’t dictate meal and rest break requirements that conflict with federal hours-of-service regulations.
States will soon be able to give would-be drivers more time to get their CDLs at the same time potentially lowering knowledge exam costs.
The vote, with one council member abstaining, took place at 1:05 a.m. this morning.
Load matching app keeps focus on drivers as it includes detention charging, terminal feedback ability.
Jurupa Valley, CA is building a badly needed truck stop. The locals don’t seem to want it.
Technology proponents see automation as aid to driver, not replacement, in short-term as challenges persist for driverless truck.
The federal guideline is “hearsed, nursed and towed,” and that will be the rule in Pennsylvania now.
Non-compliant trucks will be turned away.
Basic amenities such as snacks and a bathroom rank high among truck drivers as improvements shippers can implement at their locations to improve the driver experience.
Livestock haulers are relying on the fate of the federal budget to determine how long their ELD exemptions will last.
Rising driver wages can’t slow driver shortage plus a Boston-based company receives funding for autonomous technology development for cargo vessels and more empty containers are leaving U.S. ports
FMSCA Administrator Raymond Martinez comments on his first nine months, and the potential for an early rollout of revised HOS rules.
The vision for truck video systems goes beyond reducing one-time accident claims to creating more efficient, less risky fleets.
“The biggest takeaway is we’ve got a systemic labor problem. We don’t see a simple solution.”
Information about that data is more needed; box moves strong at Port of Los Angeles, but peak season in rearview mirror.
Pilot tests are being run now on the most basic aspect of platooning technology, but there’s more to come.
But container volumes still going strong this quarter as U.S.-China hash out deal; but first quarter likely to see slowdown.
KeepTruckin continues to expand its leadership team as it works to build out new solutions for drivers, taking advantage of the data now available to it.
Main U.S. maritime agency’s probe into practices of ocean carriers and terminals winds down, but no changes yet seen.
FMCSA has made public the denials of 10 exemption requests from its ELD rule, including OOIDA and nine smaller groups that were formally rejected earlier this year.
Canadian province tackles stricter driver training and Chinese goods to Europe move along the world’s longest freight route. Plus Uptake takes innovation award and improving truck driving jobs.
Using the power of the crowds to create a successful mapping tool.
App allows drivers to review facilities, fostering better dialogue between two sides of freight transaction.
Also in the pickup: Morgan Stanley index, and a move back to sailing across the ocean.
As any driver knows, parking is at a premium at truck stops, even during the middle of the day. A new survey is being conducted to get an update on the current parking situation.
The numbers from the Black Friday-Cyber Monday period are seen as supporting the company’s projections of a 17% increase
A driver incentive program, which not only prompts drivers to make smarter and safer driving decisions, but also promotes driver happiness, is one way to increase driver retention.
We posted a story yesterday profiling an iconic truck stop in Portland. In Part II we talk to drivers who stopped at Jubitz for fuel, a bite and well-earned rest.
The strikes would end the day after the Governor General signs the legislation.
The Swift program will offer courses through Southern New Hampshire University.
Canada is working to finalize an ELD rule for truckers in that country. The rule would closely mirror the U.S. regulation, with a few significant differences.
The Canadian Parliament is still considering legislation but the union is pushing back.
Drivers at Swift Transportation, a subsidiary of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KNX), now have the opportunity to earn college degrees online through Southern New Hampshire University’s College for America program.
The government signaled a day earlier it was prepared to take such a step.
A Connecticut DOT study found that tolls on the state highways could generate $1 billion a year. Despite that, the incoming governor is focused only on adding tolls for trucks.
How much of the strength is pre-tariff purchases? How much of the talk of weakness is “on the other hand” economics?
A Goldman Sachs report several months ago laid out the strengths of the app that matches loads, but does a lot more than that.
YRC, Teamsters say pilots mean more earnings for drivers.
Trucking executive points to final mile delivery as draining driver pool, so think about that on Cyber Monday.
The union lays out in surprising detail what it is seeking.
The two sides have been negotiating for a year, and e-commerce is a big part of the basis for the standoff.
The decision in favor of Horizon turned on a narrow question of where one of the employees’ case should be heard.
U.S. Xpress CEO Fuller warns that a lot of companies are still working with 30-year-old technology.
The original notice failed to include propane. It can become a factor particularly if deliveries go on past 12 hours.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Since July 2017, dayzz has been developing an evidence-based, personalized sleep training app for enterprise workforces to improve sleep quality while reducing healthcare and employer costs.
Also in the pickup: vets get a shot at free CDL training; another dispatch from the parking wars
It took a week to get the tallies, but an early lead turned into an insurmountable deficit.
Penske Truck Leasing has added a major upgrade to its Penske Driver app, giving drivers the ability to quickly and easily call for roadside assistance without the need for a phone call.
TCA’s David Heller discusses game-changing ELD data and the ways it may impact driver detention and retention trends.
DHL hopes plan will attract new recruits to industry as shortfall looms.
The American Transportation Research Institute is asking fleets to contribute electronic logging device (ELD) data to the group so it can study how the data can assist the industry in terms of safety initiatives and regulatory focus.
XPO Logistics is rolling out four new LTL optimization technologies and has announced a fast-track and free process for military members and veterans to receive their CDL.
Marrying up an ELD with a video system isn’t the last step for bringing multiple technologies on to one platform.
The 2018 King of the Road Survey from Atlas Van Lines shows what drivers feel are the best and worst parts about being on the road.
It is now clarified that your truck can be laden while driving for personal conveyance.
Also in the pickup: better tools for sleep apnea instruments in sleeper berths; does Buffet care about BNSF’ OR?
Brakes were also the biggest cited factor in Roadcheck Week earlier in the year.
There’s been a flight to quality that has led some shippers and carriers out of the spot market, Fuller said.
While transportation was not a front-of-the-ticket issue for politicians in the midterm elections, there were some significant developments when it came to funding projects across the country.
Companies need to keep their drivers safe; they also need to retain them and pay them. This white paper discusses how both can be done.
Retention, training, and the capacity crunch are undeniably hot button issues in 2018. In response, SmartDrive and FreightWaves collaborated to distribute a survey to uncover trends in driver incentive programs. The white paper—based on the findings of the survey, which was fielded in Q3 2018—reveals the steps that trucking companies are taking in order to hire and retain qualified drivers and create safer, more profitable organizations.
KeepTruckin has further expanded the utility of its fleet management platform with a new App Marketplace for customers to access solutions that easily integrate with KeepTruckin’s current platforms.
As more delivery companies join Amazon partner program, speculation mounts about the e-giant’s transportation and logistics grab
If the trucking market is nearing a peak, it isn’t showing up in the order books of truck OEMs.
Cameras and “magnetometers” will be used to supply data into a system that will tell drivers whether parking is available.
The driver squeeze forced U.S. Xpress to shift resources from OTR to Dedicated. Still, it posted a healthy increase in its OR.
The Drivewyze weigh in motion software will come built into Orbcomm devices. Separately, the company will launch a new free data analysis service for their customers.
Less-than-truckload carrier plans to rejuvenate fleet and remain focused on price over volume.
While 60% did say that ELDs were forcing drivers to stop, rest, and run legally, the other 40% of respondents felt that ELDs decreased driver safety, as well as for others on the road.
The divergence on that issue isn’t the only one: not surprisingly, management and drivers see the driver shortage issue through different lenses.
The bill, called the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, directs the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to report to Congress on its progress creating and issuing guidelines for hair testing.
On the agenda for the day: AOBRD transition, personal conveyance, sleeper berth rule and plenty of other issues for FMCSA’s top attorney.
Martinez also said the process has begun to look at the overlapping rules regarding agriculture transportation, and he clearly doesn’t favor California’s separate rules on meal breaks.
But lead agency for commercial vehicle safety says autonomous trucking will serve drivers well and make industry better.
The UPS Freight 30-day period is coming to an end and rank-and-file angry with the ratification decision in the face of a “no” vote are not sitting quietly.
Even as the trucking industry struggles to identify new drivers, there is a segment of the U.S. population that is facing unemployment rates above 27% that are looking for jobs. Can felons fill the driver gap?
It is a significant widening of activities at the TraPac facility.
It may mean less now in an era of higher pay, but if total hours don’t exceed the minimum wage, it could be an issue because of this ruling.
