Rising Costs Make Rough Road for Michigan's Independent Truckers

Mileage Matters | August 9, 2022

Rising costs make for rough roads for Michigan’s independent truckers

Bridge Michigan- Given that truckers deliver an estimated 70 percent of goods to Michigan store shelves, any hitches in the supply chain has consequences. That’s especially true for independent truckers — drivers who own their own rigs and must absorb the costs of equipment, maintenance, insurance and diesel fuel in order to earn a living.

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Government

HOS waived in Kentucky for flooding relief

Commercial Carriers Journal- In response to record flooding in Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray issued an order to exempt some truckers from hours of service regulations.

The exemptions will remain in effect through 12:01 a.m. EDT on August15.

Stop sending E-ZPass violations to account holders, lawmaker says

New Jersey Monitor- Anyone having problems with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and mistaken E-Z Pass violations?

Sen. Declan O'Scanlon has introduced legislation he thinks will help, a bill that would require Turnpike officials to check whether vehicles are registered to E-ZPass accounts before mailing out violations.

Operations

Diesel drops below $5 for first time since March

Transport Topics- The national average price of diesel dropped to less than $5 a gallon for the first time since March, falling 14.5 cents to settle at $4.993, according to Energy Information Administration data released August 8.

What should drivers expect at a weigh station stop?

Freight Waves- Unless a truck is equipped with a bypass preclearance device, most states require commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds to stop at every weigh station along the truck’s route. What can a driver expect at a station?

In addition to rolling over a weigh-in-motion scale to ensure the truck is operating under federal and/or state weight limits, drivers should be prepared for some level of inspection. And it usually starts as soon as the truck enters the facility.

Recruitment & Retention

Driver pay raise trend catches crosswinds

Transport Topics- The trucking industry has rapidly increased driver pay in recent years, but with a softening freight environment that trend is spinning off in several directions.

There is a split among more traditional long-haul and regional carriers on increasing pay as well as sign-on bonuses. Some carriers have rolled back such bonuses because their trucks are full.

Bureau of Prisons expands CDL training for women

Transport Topics- Efforts are underway in federal and state-level prison systems to help inmates train for and transition into careers in trucking upon their release, with the Federal Bureau of Prisons expanding its commercial driver license programs to focus on women.