DEC 2024 / JAN 2025 ISSUE
Ready to Rally?
After a long run of depressed freight rates, truckers are poised for a rebound in the trucking economy. With a new administration moving into the White House, truck drivers are ready for freight rates to go up and broker fraud to go down. Land Line Magazine takes a look at the pressures truckers face and what that could look like in 2025.
About Land Line Media Magazine
For professional truckers, staying informed is just as essential as staying on the road. Land Line delivers the latest trucking news, industry updates, and regulatory changes that impact owner-operators and professional drivers nationwide. From breaking news on trucking legislation to in-depth analysis of business strategies, fuel prices, and equipment trends, we cover everything that matters to the trucking community. As the voice of truckers, we’re dedicated to providing accurate, timely, and driver-focused content to help you navigate the road ahead. Stay connected. Stay informed. Stay in control of your business.
Ready to rally?
Analysts expect a freight market upcycle in 2025. Andrew King, director of the OOIDA Foundation, explained how that could play out.
SJ Munoz
Regulatory traffic jam
Delays can be good or bad depending on your perspective. Especially when it comes to truckers and the regulatory arena.
Mark Schremmer
Coming to a lane near you
Driverless trucks will hit public roads for the first time in 2025, a sink-or-swim moment for the autonomous vehicle industry.
Tyson Fisher
‘Horror stories’
According to FMCSA’s Truck Leasing Task Force, hundreds of thousands of drivers have been affected by predatory lease-purchase agreements.
Mark Schremmer
Bad connection?
The increased use of technology for vehicles promises to improve safety. However, the tech also opens the door to cybersecurity threats.
Mark Schremmer
Simplify and streamline
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will begin to roll out its new registration system in 2025. It will be introduced in phases.
Mark Schremmer
Advanced Clean Fleets faces another lawsuit
The lawsuits against California’s Advanced Clean Fleets keep coming. This time, truck equipment groups are getting involved.
Tyson Fisher
Do drug-testing protocols pass the test?
In November, the U.S. Department of Transportation took its latest action regarding drug testing. This time involved oral fluid testing.
Ryan Witkowski
State Watch – December 2024/January 2025
This month’s edition of State Watch takes a look at various transportation bills in statehouses around the country.
Keith Goble
January fuel tax rate changes
Fuel tax rate changes of about 3 cents or less are set to take effect the first of the year in states from West Virginia to Minnesota.
Keith Goble
New York proposal could lead to ban for not paying tolls
Failure to pay tolls to the New York State Thruway Authority could lead to a ban from the state’s tolled roads, according to a proposal.
Ryan Witkowski
California adopts rule to address high fuel costs
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that is touted to address concerns about high fuel costs.
Keith Goble
AB5 case still alive in Ninth Circuit
Does California’s AB5 place an undue burden on interstate commerce and discriminate against truck drivers? The Ninth Circuit must decide.
Mark Schremmer
Pay to play
Large carriers thought they had control of a truck driver pay study, but they got blindsided by researchers’ findings on driver shortage claims.
Tyson Fisher
Bottom line equals top concern
ATRI’s annual trucking survey confirmed that the economy is the top area of concern among carriers and owner-operators.
Tyson Fisher
Show me the money?
Despite Congress failing to pass a bill to fund truck parking expansion, the DOT invested heavily in solving the nationwide parking shortage.
Tyson Fisher
U.S. reaches $100M settlement over Key Bridge collapse
A tragic incident involving the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has resulted in a settlement of more than $100 million.
Land Line Media
Trucking company fined for whistleblower violation
A trucking company is on the hook for nearly $50,000 after the Department of Labor determined that whistleblower laws were violated.
Tyson Fisher
Dreadlock discrimination
TMC Transportation is facing discrimination allegations three years after settling a similar case. Both lawsuits involved dreadlocks.
Tyson Fisher
Beware of the Grinch
The holiday season typically means an increase in cargo thefts. To make matters worse, 2024 already has been a bad year for the crime.
Ryan Witkowski
Fighting back
While cargo theft has been on the rise, law enforcement has been working to crack down on the crime rings.
Tyson Fisher
Roses and Razzberries – December 2024/January 2025
This edition of Roses and Razzberries gives praise to a Good Samaritan and calls out a city ordinance that bans truck parking.
SJ Munoz
Road Warrior grand prize winner presented with $25,000
Pilot Flying J awarded Liz Leon of Victorville, Calif., $25,000 as part of its 2024 Road Warrior contest. Four $1,000 winners were announced.
SJ Munoz
OOIDA scholarship accepting applications until Feb. 1
As OOIDA accepts applications for its 2025 scholarships, the program is approaching half a million dollars awarded.
Land Line Media
Veterans Community Project receives support from truckers
The Veterans Community Project gains additional support from OOIDA members. Find out how truckers are helping to continue VCP’s mission.
Ryan Witkowski
Wreaths Across America Day set for Dec.
Wreaths Across America Day is scheduled for Dec. 14. Organizers of the annual event are estimating more than 4,600 locations will take part.
Land Line Media
Capitol Christmas Tree begins journey in Alaska
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree harvest celebration began on Oct. 26 in Wrangell, Alaska. A lighting ceremony is planned in December.
Land Line Media
ATHS inducts this year’s Hall of Fame class
The American Truck Historical Society held its annual American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame induction ceremony in October.
SJ Munoz
Rooster helps train truckers at Arizona school
A truck driving school in Arizona has drawn attention for its unusual mascot who assists in the training and even sports a high vis vest.
Erin Wisdom-Watson
Caught on the lot – December 2024/January 2025
You never have to look far for good looking trucks caught on the lot at 4 State Trucks home of the Chrome Shop Mafia in Joplin, Mo.
Bryan Martin
OOIDA on the Road – December 2024/January 2025
We love it when members stop by OOIDA's tour truck and share your success stories and tell others about the value of the association.
Land Line Media
Trucking History – December 2024/January 2025
This month in trucking history is packed full of milestones for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. Jan. 1, 1974 The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association started to develop a working staff under the leadership of Jim and Mary Johnston. As the Association was incorporated, membership control was written into the bylaws...
SJ Munoz
Slight Detour – December 2024/January 2025
As we take a Slight Detour, a driver gets a fitting goodbye, a new king is crowned and we discover that truckers could be the key to finding Bigfoot.
Ryan Witkowski
Trucking: It’s a brotherhood
Trucking is a brotherhood. So, instead of another divisive opinion piece, OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh waxes poetic about his days on the open road.
Jami Jones
Driver shortage narrative must end
There is not a driver shortage in the trucking industry. And that’s not just me saying it. Experts have reached the same conclusion.
Mark Schremmer
Truck To Success navigates becoming an owner-operator
OOIDA’s annual Truck To Success teaches those thinking about becoming owner-operators what all that entails.
Erin Wisdom-Watson
Grille guards have little impact on fuel economy
Grille guards do not play a large role in a truck’s fuel economy, according to a recent study commissioned by Ex-Guard.
Tom Berg
EIA forecasts energy prices comparable to previous winter
Heading into the cold season, the EIA was predicting winter heating costs to be largely comparable to the previous year.
SJ Munoz
Road Law – December 2024/January 2025
In this edition of Road Law, we follow up on a previous article about speed-detection devices and explain judicial notice.
Jeff McConnell and James Mennella
Court rules oil haulers exempt from overtime due to interstate rules
If you drive in only one state, you’re an intrastate trucker, right? That’s not always the case, according to a federal appellate court.
Tyson Fisher
How truckers can recoup lost income from downtime
Downtime is among the compensation that truckers often are unaware they’re entitled to if they’re forced out of work.
SJ Munoz
Trucking & Taxes – December 2024/January 2025
This edition of Trucking & Taxes tells truckers not to overlook the benefits of using their home office as a deduction.
Barry Fowler
Mexico cross-border freight numbers surge
For the majority of 2024, Mexico’s cross-border freight has been booming while Canada’s has weakened. Check out the numbers.
Tyson Fisher