Author: Trucker Talk Radio

Tucker Carlson’s Return to Moscow Tucker Carlson, favored by Russian state media, visited Moscow this week, seemingly aiming to amplify Vladimir Putin’s narrative on Ukraine. Kremlin media figures hinted at a potentially more nefarious purpose behind his visit. Interview with Sergey Lavrov During his second trip to Moscow, Carlson interviewed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The interview, aired Thursday night, provided the former Fox News host a platform to advocate for the Kremlin’s viewpoint that the U.S. should decrease its involvement in Ukraine to avert a catastrophic nuclear crisis. Speculations of Hidden Agendas While the discussion yielded no shocking insights,…

Modifications to the overweight motor carrier regulations in Indiana were introduced in House Enrolled Act 1190, which was enacted in April. (Getty Images) [Stay updated with transportation news: Subscribe to TTNews.] New Overweight Truck Regulations in Indiana New regulations concerning overweight trucks will come into effect in Indiana starting July 1. Overview of Legislative Changes The changes to the oversize and overweight motor carrier regulations are part of House Enrolled Act 1190, which became law in April. This legislation eliminates the specific lists of commodities and weight limits for certain goods from the definition of “overweight divisible load.” The act…

Mandatory English Proficiency for Truck Drivers Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued an order on Tuesday mandating that commercial truck drivers be proficient in English. Non-Compliance Consequences According to the new rules, drivers who do not meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s English-language proficiency standards will be removed from service. Emphasis on Safety “America First translates to safety first. Americans are significantly safer sharing the road with truckers who can comprehend and interpret our traffic signs. This sensible adjustment ensures that failure to comply results in more serious consequences,” Duffy stated in a release on Tuesday. Background on the Regulation…

Prebuy Anticipation in the Trucking Industry Truck manufacturers and suppliers were preparing for a significant influx of heavy-duty truck orders in anticipation of new emission standards set to be introduced in 2027. However, this anticipated surge is unlikely to happen now that the former EPA administrator under Trump has revoked these regulations, calling it “the greatest and most consequential day of deregulation in U.S. history.” This decision is part of Trump’s larger strategy to enhance fossil fuel production and ease regulatory pressures on various industries. Concerns of Smaller Operators While the truck manufacturers may feel let down by the absence…

Updated Guidance from FMCSA on English Proficiency for Drivers The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released new guidelines for law enforcement to assess whether commercial vehicle drivers have adequate English language proficiency (ELP) to prevent citations or out-of-service orders. Executive Order Mandating English Proficiency Enforcement In late April, President Trump enacted an Executive Order (EO) mandating the enforcement of existing ELP standards for truck drivers. This order aimed to reverse a 2016 policy that stated commercial vehicle drivers should not be placed out of service due to ELP violations. Following the EO, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance modified…

Dive Brief: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Office of the Inspector General reported that “lax lending practices” were primarily responsible for the failure of Citizens Bank, based in Sac City, Iowa, in November. Since 2014, Citizens Bank has issued commercial loans to trucking companies without adequate risk management, expertise, and board oversight, leading to a situation where, by last June, these loans constituted 43% of the bank’s portfolio. The bank management’s failure to address flagged concerns by regulators contributed to the bank’s downfall, resulting in an estimated loss of $14.8 million to the Deposit Insurance Fund, which is 23% of…

New Federal Entry-Level Driver Training Requirements Starting February 7, 2022, new federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations will take effect, creating a uniform standard nationwide for obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL). These updated ELDT rules will specifically apply to drivers who wish to: Obtain their CDL for the first time; Upgrade their existing CDL from Class B to Class A; or Acquire a new hazmat, passenger, or school bus endorsement. In summary, the changes primarily affect new applicants, while current CDL holders will largely remain unaffected. Background on ELDT Changes This update has been anticipated for some time. The…

The owner of a trucking company based in Rochester, New York, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison after being found guilty of providing false information to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Anatoliy Kirik, also referred to as Tony, was convicted by a jury in June in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo’s office, evidence presented at trial indicated that Kirik’s actions posed a serious risk to the safety of highways due to unsafe trucks. Sentencing Details While federal guidelines suggested a sentence of 41…

WM Leadership Transition and Technological Advances John Morris, WM’s new President and COO, recalls his experiences driving waste vehicles during college, a time when drivers often rode on the back of trucks and windows were the only source of ventilation. Now overseeing field operations, Morris manages a fleet of over 18,000 vehicles equipped with advanced technologies for enhanced safety and efficiency. He remarks, “The technology in these trucks is vastly superior to what it used to be.” Vision for WM’s Future Recently named president, Morris will continue his previous field operations responsibilities. Executives in areas such as sustainability and customer…

Bret Michaels on the Open Road Bret Michaels, renowned rock star and lead vocalist of Poison, expresses his love for traveling and driving. In an interview with Fox News Digital, he shared, “Traveling is something I adore. If I hadn’t had a successful music career, I might have been a long-haul trucker or a DJ. Music is therapeutic for me.” The Challenges of Balancing Family and Work Michaels, who became a father to daughters Raine, 24, and Jorja, 19, admits that juggling family life with his touring schedule can be challenging. He reflects, “It’s bittersweet when your kids have special…