Experts wonder, what’s the real story behind Saudi oil production levels?

LLN (9/25/19) – Diesel shot up by 9 cents last week following the attack on a Saudi oil processing facility – but do we know the whole story about Saudi oil production levels? Also, FMCSA is focused on automated trucks and hours of service – and a long-dormant trucking advisory group is ready to offer information. Tropical Storm Imelda had a significant effect on the van and flatbed markets, and the UAW strike may have an effect as well. And a coalition opposed to larger, heavier trucks brought their case to Pennsylvania lawmakers this week.

0:00-10:10 – Newscast.

10:10-24:14 – FMCSA advisory panel on automation, hours of service.

24:14-38:43 – Tropical storms, strikes and rates; Saudi oil production questioned.

38:43-48:22– Longer, heavier trucks in Pennsylvania.

Segment 1

Newscast

• The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that it has awarded $77.3 million in grants to states and educational institutions to enhance commercial motor vehicle safety. You can learn more about the FMCSA grants here.
• OOIDA is asking members to step up and contact their lawmakers about a bill that would cause minimum insurance coverage to skyrocket to nearly $5 million.
  • Read more about bill HR3781.
  • You can send a letter to your congressman on the Fighting for Truckers website.
  • Read more from Land Line Magazine:
    • ‘Follow the money’ adage applies to minimum insurance bill.
    • OOIDA coalition stands up against expensive trucking mandates.
    • OOIDA letter asks Congress to reject ‘misguided’ plan to raise insurance minimums.
• Eddie L. Bryant of Albuquerque, N.M., has been recognized by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association for 53 years of safe, accident-free driving as part of the OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program.
• Learn more about the OOIDA Safe Driving Award Program.
• Nov. 11 is the start of the 2019 Truckers for Troops Telethon. That week, you can join OOIDA for a discount. Ten percent of your membership will help send care packages to troops overseas and help returning veterans with OOIDA matching those donations.

Segment 2

Efforts to automate trucks and the hours of service are both front and center on the FMCSA’s radar, and a group of motor carriers, safety groups, trucker representatives and others are gathering for the first time in more than year to offer the agency some input. Terry Scruton gets an update from OOIDA Director of Federal Affairs Jay Grimes.

• You can still comment on hours of service through Oct. 7.
• View OOIDA’s complete guide to Regulatory Issues.
• If you have questions you would like answered, you can call our Listener Comment Line at 800-324-6856.
• Read related content from Land Line Magazine:
  • Nearly 1,000 comments submitted on hours of service.
  • Research undermines panic of automation displacing trucking jobs.
  • OOIDA focuses on safety, impact on truckers in comments about automation.

Segment 3

Tropical Storm Imelda had a significant effect on the van and flatbed markets, and the UAW strike may have an effect as well. Mary McKenna talks with Peggy Dorf with DAT, a company that provides market information for owner-operators, carriers, brokers and shippers.

• Visit the DAT website.
• Or you can call them at 800-547-5417.
• Be sure to check out their blog.
• Chat with them on Twitter.
• And find out more on the OOIDA Members Edge website.
• You can call OOIDA Members Edge at 866-487-8253.
• Read more: DAT Solutions: Tropical storm dampens spot market demand.
• Read more about Imelda’s impact on trucking: Flooding from Imelda shuts down I-10 in Texas.

Diesel prices increased more than 9 cents over the past week. Mary McKenna offers a detailed update on the price of diesel fuel and crude oil, including a breakdown by region and analysis.

• Here is this week’s price report by Land Line Magazine, U.S. average diesel fuel price jumps 9 cents in a week.
• Find Daily Fuel Prices by ProMiles.
• To see how to compute your own fuel surcharge use OOIDA’s online Fuel Surcharge Calculator.
• To download OOIDA’s fuel surcharge app for Android smartphones, click here.

Segment 4

A coalition that opposes increasing the allowed size and weight of trucks was in Pennsylvania this week, explaining to state lawmakers why they don’t want an increase – or more exemptions from the rules. Mark Reddig talks with Bryce Mongeon of OOIDA’s Washington, D.C., office, who was there.

• It’s never too late to share your views with your members of Congress. You can do that on the Fighting for Truckers website.
• To call members of Congress, dial 202-224-3121.
• To get contact information for state lawmakers, go to that same website, scroll down to where it says “Find your hometown lawmakers,” and enter your ZIP code.
• You can also get your state lawmakers’ contact information by calling the Membership Department here at OOIDA at 816-229-5791.
• Read OOIDA’s Guide to Contacting Lawmakers.