Jan 04, 2019

Trucking Industry Update January 4, 2019

By Jeremy Feucht
This piece is usually meant for current happenings within the industry. But, let’s change it up this week and look at the top 5 possibilities for 2019

5. Infrastructural Improvements on the Way?
Not this year. Probably not in 2020 either. We are half way through this presidential term and now politicians are eyeing the next general election. We are sitting in a shutdown now and additional spending earmarks will just prolong the shutdown. Do not expect any major decisions on aid to the infrastructure. On a positive note, this should mean no federal push for toll roads.
4. Hours of Service Update?
This is a long time in the making. By summer of 2019, there will probably be some changes to the current hours of service model. The change with the biggest chance of occurring is the removal of the mandatory half hour break. Another item that has gained some steam is the idea of allowing a driver to go off duty after being in detention for more than 3 hours. The last still has a great deal of ironing out but with the backing of the ATA and OOIDA, has a legitimate chance to be passed.
3. Fuel Prices
As much as I believe that the current slide diesel prices are on will continue for the foreseeable future, I believe that time ends in June. With container shippers switching off bunker fuel while in international waters due to new regulations, demand for diesel is going to skyrocket. Expect prices to creep up starting in the summer.
2. Autonomous Technology
No, it will not become widely used in 2019. But we should finally see some government regulations to govern its use. This is a double-edged sword, however. By giving the autonomous technology companies regulations, you effectively give them a goal to shoot for and reach. Right now, they are blindly aiming and hoping they hit their mark. Expect something by the end of the summer.
1. Capacity
With troops being brought home from Syria and talks of additional troops being brought home from other fronts, this could mean another boom of owner-operators into the industry. Add on the FMCSA and DOT’s push for veterans to become drivers (especially those with driving experience),and you have a perfect storm to cut into that massive driver deficit. Such an influx of drivers could push down rates. Look for the ATA, OOIDA and the DOT to release figures on this increase in September.

Oct 15, 2018 • Community

Must-See Movies for Truck Drivers Which night is movie night for you? Is it Wednesday evening, when you’re relaxing after a long day on the road? Or do you wait until the weekend to chill on your couch at home? Whichever represents your ideal movie night, rest assured that we have the perfect must-see movie list just for truck drivers like you. We’ll start with one of the most obvious: [p]Smokey and the Bandit (1977) [p]Starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jerry Reed, Jackie Gleason and Mike Henry, this action comedy film is about two truck drivers who take a dare to deliver a truckload of beer. After they pick up a hitchhiker - a runaway bride - they soon find themselves being pursued by the jilted groom and his sheriff father. [p]Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) [p]Did you even know there was a sequel? In this one, the Bandit returns to transport an elephant from Florida to Texas. [p]Armed and Dangerous (1986) [p]Starring John Candy, Meg Ryan and Eugene Levy, Armed and Dangerous is about a disgraced cop and an inept lawyer embark on second careers as security guards. The pair quickly discover corruption within their union and security firm. In this movie, John Candy’s character hitches a ride with a trucker who plows through cars in a traffic jam and ignores the rules of the road to prevent a robbery. [p]Big Rig (2007) [p]A documentary film, Big Rig follows several long-haul truckers as they discuss life on the road and challenges truckers face in the industry. [p]Black Dog (1998) [p]This thriller, starring Patrick Swayze, is about an ex-con truck driver who discovers he’s unknowingly transporting a truck full of illegal weapons. [p]Convoy (1978) [p]A group of trucker friends use their CB radios to warn each other about police nearby until a sheriff tries to foil their plans with his own radio broadcasts. [p]Flatbed Annie & Sweetie Pie: Lady Truckers (1979) [p]Two women team up behind the wheel of a Mack Super-Liner to keep it out of the hands of a repo man and hijackers. [p]The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977) [p]After a truck driver gets his rig repossessed, he steals it back to make one last cross-country run. [p]Hijack! (1973) [p]Two truck drivers are tasked with transporting top-secret cargo from New York to Houston. A terrorist group tries to hijack their freight along the way. [p]Over the Top (1987) [p]A struggling trucker, played by Sylvester Stallone, uses arm wrestling to earn extra money. When he takes his estranged son on the road with him, he tries to use the World Arm Wrestling Championships to win back his son. [p]Snitch (2013) [p]Dwayne Johnson plays a father whose son is accused of distributing drugs. In order to help his son, Johnson’s character goes undercover with the DEA to infiltrate a drug cartel. You won’t want to miss two major action sequences that involve a big rig. [p]Steel Cowboy (1978) [p]Trucker Clayton Ray Davis, played by James Brolin, agrees to haul some stolen cattle to avoid getting his truck repossessed. [p]They Drive by Night (1940) [p]Starring George Raft and Humphrey Bogart, two brothers try to make a living as wildcat truckers. [p]Thunder Run (1986) [p]A truck driver transports plutonium from Nevada to Arizona, unaware that there are terrorists waiting to steal his freight. [p]Time Bomb (1984) [p]A truck carrying plutonium gets hijacked by terrorists and it’s up to the truckers to save the day. [p]One of these has to sound good to you! Which film are you planning to see on your next movie night?

Oct 24, 2018

Tips for improving your fuel economy You know the old saying that a little bit goes a long way? Well that couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to your fuel economy. By making some simple changes and slight adjustments to how you run your truck, you can save thousands of dollars every year. Not sure how that’s possible? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite ways you can improve your fuel economy:[p] <ul> <li>Use cruise control. You’ll save valuable fuel when you’re not accelerating and decelerating frequency.</li> <li>Watch your speed. You may think that faster equals better, but that’s not the case when it comes of your fuel. Driving faster not only causes you to burn through your fuel more quickly, but at a rate that costs your more in the long run.</li> <li>Install after-market products designed for aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The trucking industry, as a whole, has embraced the importance of improving fuel economy. There are several products on the market to help you do this, such as trailer skirts, aerodynamic mud flaps and deep angled bumpers.</li> <li>Compare pricing before filling up. You can easily compare fuel prices right within your Trucker Path app.</li> <li>Maximize your time when you stop. Every time you stop to use the restroom, fill up or grab some food it costs you unnecessary drive time, acceleration and deceleration. Doing all these things at the same stop will save you valuable time and money.</li> <li>Minimize your idling time. Leaving your truck running for extended periods of time when it’s not necessary wastes fuel.</li> <li>Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Every 1 psi drop in air pressure will reduce your gas mileage by 0.2-0.4 percent. This adds up quickly.</li> <li>Inspect your truck regularly. Conducting thorough pre-trip inspections will help you catch fuel leaks, issues with your engine fan, tire misalignment and other problems - all of which can reduce your fuel efficiency.</li> </ul> Have you made any of these changes recently and seen a difference in your fuel efficiency? We’d love to hear what you’ve done and how it has helped!

Nov 19, 2018