Hours of Service

The No. 1 barrier to truckers' efficient hours utilization

Shippers/receivers' dock inefficiencies were named No. 1 by both owner-operators and MIT when it comes to hours utilization barriers, yet researchers might be missing a significant limiting factor in how new hours of service flexibilities are applied.

December 2, 2021

truck dock loading

FMCSA extends COVID-19 emergency declaration's hours waiver through February

The FMCSA waiver will now be effective through Feb. 28, 2022. The extension continues to retain new features instituted with the last extension that began in September. Also: Spot market update shows expected Thanksgiving-week sag.

November 29, 2021

Highway Traffic Scene Volvo Truck

The COVID-19 HOS waiver: Has 'self-regulation' equated to better safety?

Trucker Nation teams up with D&K Truck Compliance on a new effort to gather data from carriers and individual drivers who have operated under the COVID waiver. The goal is to study safety outcomes, potentially spurring hours of service change.

November 23, 2021

drivers daily log

Livestock haulers get additional HOS exemption in infrastructure law

The infrastructure bill signed into law earlier this month adds to livestock and insect haulers' 150 air-mile radius hours of service exemption. Also: 15 Republican governors call on Biden to ease trucking regs to help supply chain; more.

November 23, 2021

Peterbilt with livestock trailer

Opinion: Another case for more flexible hours of service, small trucking's voice

Thomas "T-Ray" Hogan of Ward, Arkansas, penned this letter to urge regulators and others around trucking to ease up on solutions in search of a problem that he feels are driving independents and small fleets out of trucking -- a safety negative.

November 16, 2021

Thomas Hogan 2007 Peterbilt 379

Overdrive Extra

Truckers 'scarce and under-utilized at the same time' -- how can that possibly be?

So asks MIT's Dr. David Correll, part of a podcast talk with working haulers. Correll was speaking to the constant drumbeat around a "driver shortage," even as truckers average just 6-7 hours of driving a day. What's your average daily hours utilization?

November 10, 2021

Semi-truck parked at rest area

Hours waivers extended in two states

Ongoing drought conditions in N.D., Minn. prompt extensions of HOS waivers for certain haulers in both states. Also: Love's donates $2.8 million to Children's Miracle Network; medium is message in bottle design for diesel-additive maker; TMS turns 1.

November 9, 2021

Ovd eastman 2017 08 11 08 07

Electronic Logging Devices

Is your ELD ready for the 3G network shutdown?

Cell providers will start sunsetting their legacy 3G networks in February to make room for more advanced networks. As a result, any devices still relying on the 3G networks will become “bricks of silicon and plastic.” Make sure your device is ready.

November 9, 2021

Peoplenet ELD in use

A new call for more split-sleeper flexibility, among other trucking asks to improve supply chains

A number of trucking groups submitted comments to DOT with recommendations on easing supply chain disruptions. Investing in infrastructure to ease congestion and expand truck parking, and more split-sleeper options for drivers, were among ideas.

November 3, 2021

bumper to bumper traffic on highway

Overdrive Radio

The big reveal: Prize interior renovation | More on COVID hours waiver

Owner-operator Debbie Desiderato on bottom-line business impacts likely from her TransFix My Rig sweepstakes win, after custom work by Jason Cameron. Also: FMCSA's input on COVID hours of service waiver's reporting requirement, more.

September 24, 2021

Bed and feature wall inside of Debbie Desiderato's Western Star truck

Overdrive Radio

How the COVID hours waiver could disentangle HOS rigidity

Strong views from Andrea Marks of the Trucker Nation advocacy group on the opportunities embedded within the long extensions of FMCSA's COVID-emergency-related waivers – and the dangers lurking in the latest changes as of September 1.

September 17, 2021

overdrive radio pic colllage

FMCSA hoping to study COVID HOS waiver use | More I-10 closures in Ariz. this weekend

EB lanes will be closed near the Phoenix airport, and both directions will be closed west of Willcox. Also: FMCSA seeks to collect information on numbers of carriers/drivers using the COVID HOS waiver. Spot rates: Vans, reefers up.

August 26, 2021

Highway Construction

Hours of Service

FMCSA narrows, extends fuel shortage emergency declaration in South Dakota

The waiver covers carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in South Dakota related to the ongoing drought and shortage of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and ethyl alcohol for use in fueling aircraft and emergency vehicles.

August 23, 2021

Propane Fuel Tanker

Relief in sight: I-70 partially reopening this weekend | Hours exemptions granted in parts of Colorado

The interstate has been closed since July 31 when mudslides washed over the highway in Glenwood Canyon. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has also issued an emergency declaration suspending HOS regs for relief, fuel haulers in parts. Also: New KW dealer up north.

August 12, 2021

Colorado DOT plans to partially reopen I-70 in Glenwood Canyon beginning Saturday, Aug. 14.

North Dakota livestock haulers get HOS relief due to drought

Extreme drought conditions ongoing since April in North Dakota prompted Gov. Doug Burgum to declare a state of emergency, suspending HOS regs and weight restrictions for drivers hauling livestock and hay and water supplies for livestock.

August 11, 2021

Livestock Truck

Is it overtime for company-driver overtime pay?

The FMCSA driver-advisory panel's first subject -- the retention of experienced drivers in trucking -- launched discussion at the highest levels of government about the old overtime-pay exemption, compensated training, regs burdens and much more.

August 10, 2021

Biden wants stricter emissions regs on trucks | New HOS waivers in 3 states

President Biden called on the EPA to establish stricter greenhouse gas emissions regulations on trucks and passenger vehicles, beginning in 2027. Also: Some truckers in three more states get HOS waivers; more.

August 9, 2021

Glider Kit Freightliner

Hours regs, weight restrictions suspended for fuel haulers in Iowa

Under the emergency declarations, fuel haulers in Iowa can carry up to 90,000 pounds without a permit. Also: Westbound I-10 closure planned through Phoenix this weekend; driver praised for helping abandoned woman on highway.

August 5, 2021

Speeding Gov Shots

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ATRI's Rebecca Brewster told attendees of a fleet conference they should be doing more to increase parking options for operators, pointing out that many of attendees likely drove past trucks parked on the shoulders and ramps of highways for lack of parking. 'This is an untenable positions drivers are faced with,' she said.

Fleets, operators hugely at odds over truck parking crisis

While the debate around driver compensation v. a perceived "driver shortage" is well-worn, Rebecca Brewster of ATRI pointed to big driver concern around truck parking as cause for a loud wakeup call for fleets, whose own concern levels rank far lower.

Driver couple walking back to the truck after meal purchase in truck stop

Per diem tax breaks just got a lot simpler -- and more valuable -- for owner-operators

Jade Transport's 2021 Peterbilt 389 Pride & Class

Throwback 359-style design on Jade Transport’s 2021 389 Pride & Class

U.S. Tax Return for an S Corporation Form 1120-S with an image of a vehicle carrier and semi-truck

How to save taxes, gain biz-management dividends with an S Corp structure

Garmin Dezl Truck Navigator

Garmin Dezl Truck Navigator

Small fleet roundtable: 'Co-opetition' code, balancing personal/business pursuits, more

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