From the Editor
Breaking the bank
In her editor’s page, Jami Jones highlights the multiple ways truckers are mistakenly targeted for more fees to jacking up insurance rates.
News
Rolling piggy banks
As the Highway Trust Fund dwindles, many government officials treat tractor-trailers as ATMs on wheels.
How will the highway bill play out?
If things go according to plan, there will be a new highway bill in place before the October edition of Land Line Magazine arrives in your mailbox.
A blow to the economy
An increase to minimum insurance would hurt more than motor carriers, coalition says.
‘A leaky bucket’
Driver retention problem draws focus at trucking roundtable.
NHTSA mandates crash reports from automated vehicle companies
NHTSA issued a standing general order that will require manufacturers of automated vehicles to provide crash reports.
On hold
Next status report on the hours-of-service lawsuit due Aug. 20.
FMCSA launches Training Provider Registry
FMCSA says the Training Provider Registry will improve highway safety by ensuring that only qualified drivers take the wheel.
Analysis: ‘Expendable workforce’
Amazon’s cold, calculating management ethos, as reported by The New York Times, seems similar to the root of trucking’s biggest issues.
FMCSA pushes compliance for medical examiner rule to June 2025
The FMCSA announced in June that it was pushing four provisions of its medical examiner final rule into 2025.
Six states pursue rule changes for license plate readers
Legislators in statehouses from Florida to Massachusetts are considering, or have OK'ed, changes to rules that cover license plate readers.
Eight states impose fuel tax changes July 1
The first of the July marked the implementation of a mix of increases and decreases to fuel tax rates in states around the country.
North Dakota will soon test longer truck size and weight
A North Dakota law authorizes the state Department of Transportation to test longer and heavier truck loads on certain state roadways.
Truckers saddled with new user fee in Connecticut
A new truck tax now is law in Connecticut. The governor has signed a bill to start collecting a highway user fee in 2023.
Gov. DeSantis signs bill killing M-CORES toll program
Grassroots opposition convinced Florida lawmakers to end the M-CORES toll program, with Gov. DeSantis making it official in June.
New Texas law revises truck injury liability rules
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law a bill to revise statute that covers injury liability concerns for truck operations of all sizes.
State Watch – August/September 2021
Land Line Magazine's State Watch features a roundup of pertinent trucking legislation in statehouses across the nation.
Crash stats during pandemic suggest truckers were safest drivers
Traffic fatalities in 2020 went up in all categories … except crashes involving large trucks.
Supreme Court showdown?
AB5 injunction remains in place until the high court decides if it will hear the case.
Cart before the horse?
OOIDA says automatic emergency braking systems shouldn’t be mandated until the tech is perfected.
‘Simply unworkable’
OOIDA continues fight against any proposals mandating side or front underride guards.
Minneapolis wants to eliminate all truck parking
A proposed ordinance in Minneapolis calls for banning trucks from parking on any city streets.
Truck to Success course beneficial to newcomers and industry veterans
OOIDA is again offering its Truck to Success course, a three-day deep dive into the ins and outs of becoming an owner-operator.
‘Unfortunate situation’
Close encounter with protesters likely to end with no charges for former truck driver.
What does the end of 3G mean for your ELD?
What’s going to happen with your 3G ELD and cell phone when 3G wireless service ends, probably sometime in 2022?
Transport Canada approves second company to certify ELDs
Transport Canada has approved a second group – CSA Group of Mississauga – to certify electronic logging devices for use in Canada.
FMCSA proposes to expand windshield parameters for safety devices
FMCSA proposes to increase the area in which certain safety devices may be mounted on the interior windshield of a commercial motor vehicle.
Operation Sideswipe saga continues
Two more defendants are admitting guilt for their roles in “Operation Sideswipe,” a vast conspiracy involving staged crashes with trucks.
Werner must face class action lawsuit filed by driver trainee over wages
Werner Enterprises’ attempt to dismiss a driver trainee wage lawsuit was denied, less than a year after scoring a victory in a similar case.
In This Issue:
News
- Rolling piggy banks
- How will the highway bill play out?
- A blow to the economy
- ‘A leaky bucket’
- NHTSA mandates crash reports from automated vehicle companies
- On hold
- FMCSA launches Training Provider Registry
- Analysis: ‘Expendable workforce’
- FMCSA pushes compliance for medical examiner rule to June 2025
- Six states pursue rule changes for license plate readers
- Eight states impose fuel tax changes July 1
- North Dakota will soon test longer truck size and weight
- Truckers saddled with new user fee in Connecticut
- Gov. DeSantis signs bill killing M-CORES toll program
- New Texas law revises truck injury liability rules
- State Watch – August/September 2021
- Crash stats during pandemic suggest truckers were safest drivers
- Supreme Court showdown?
- Cart before the horse?
- ‘Simply unworkable’
- Minneapolis wants to eliminate all truck parking
- Truck to Success course beneficial to newcomers and industry veterans
- ‘Unfortunate situation’
- What does the end of 3G mean for your ELD?
- Transport Canada approves second company to certify ELDs
- FMCSA proposes to expand windshield parameters for safety devices
- Operation Sideswipe saga continues
- Werner must face class action lawsuit filed by driver trainee over wages
Opinion
Features
- GBATS is back
- Regularly scheduled programming
- A lifelong passion
- System Transport to haul Capitol Christmas Tree
- ‘The coolest thing I’ve ever done’
- Mafia Secrets Aug/Sept 2021
- Headed for truck shows, searching for clean restrooms
- Dashboard Confidential – August/September 2021
- Slight Detour – August/September 2021
- Roses & Razzberries – August/September 2021
Features
GBATS is back
Truck show in Joplin, Mo., going big in 2021.
Regularly scheduled programming
Truck shows bringing back live events in 2021.
A lifelong passion
OOIDA life member George Fiebe receives Golden Achievement Award from ATHS.
System Transport to haul Capitol Christmas Tree
System Transport will deliver the Capital Christmas tree to west lawn of the Capitol building after it is harvested in late October.
‘The coolest thing I’ve ever done’
Trucking company hauls B-1 bomber from Oklahoma to Kansas.
Mafia Secrets Aug/Sept 2021
A show truck that works every day.
Headed for truck shows, searching for clean restrooms
Marty Ellis, skipper of The Spirit of the American Trucker, is cruising the truck shows and keeping an eye out for clean showers.
Dashboard Confidential – August/September 2021
Just doing our job, ma’am
Slight Detour – August/September 2021
The open road can get lonely, which is why many truckers have animal co-pilots.
Roses & Razzberries – August/September 2021
This edition of Roses & Razzberries supplies a heaping serving of razzberries to everyone from the media to the House of Representatives.
Business
The trend toward ‘smart’ trailers
A recent survey showed that tracking devices and solar panels are popular. What’s next for fleets and owner-operators?
Hot Stuff and Cool Services – August/September 21
Check out the latest truck products in the August/September 2021 edition of Hot Stuff & Cool Services.
Advice
Maintenance Q&A – August/September 2021
Used tires and broken wheel studs.
Trucking & Taxes – August/September 2021
When you owe the IRS.
Road Law – August/September 2021
Don’t pay if you want to play.