Author: Trucker Talk Radio

Emerging from the Silence Andy Sutcliffe’s ringtone slices through the quiet expanse of the outback like a siren’s call. The mechanic rushes to pick it up, as the Mission Impossible theme echoes through his workshop. It’s an apt choice, as a call—something the self-identified “Luddite” prefers to minimize—usually signals that someone is in distress on the infamous Canning Stock Route, stuck on the challenging Anne Beadell Highway, or stranded on the extremely isolated Connie Sue track. Ready for Action Equipped with spare tires—at least six for the longer journeys—he loads his 1985 German MAN truck and heads out to assist.…

Racing Resumes at Grandview Speedway Following an unexpected halt to racing on Saturday night due to poor weather, Grandview Speedway is set to resume the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series event on Saturday night, May 24, picking up right where it left off. The racing last Saturday was cut short by rain after the second heat race for the T.P. Trailer Modifieds, which led to the suspension of the event. Track crews attempted to salvage the track surface during a brief delay, but additional rain forced the cancellation of the night after completing just six qualifying races, including four…

Commercial Truck Insurance Renewal Trends This year, if you’ve faced a truck insurance renewal and felt a wave of anxiety, you’re not alone. Recent industry data from late 2023 and early 2024 indicates that many individual truck operators are shelling out between $11,000 and $16,000 annually for primary liability and cargo coverage. These costs vary based on the type of freight and operational area. Future Budgeting for Small Fleets As we look ahead to 2025, modest increases in insurance rates are anticipated, particularly impacting new authorities and smaller fleets. Small carriers are advised to budget between $12,000 and $17,000 per…

Washington Update on Truck Driver Hiring Rules A third-party group overseeing drug testing for truck drivers working with film studios has successfully persuaded regulators to continue a more lenient hiring approach compared to standard freight haulers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended for another five years the exemption given in 2020 to DISA Entertainment Compliance Solutions (DECS), formerly known as Motion Picture Compliance Solutions. This allows DECS member companies to bypass a comprehensive check of FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse during the initial preemployment screening of drivers. Rather than a complete database query, DECS member companies can…

In a period typically characterized by lowering freight volumes in the fourth quarter, truck service operations are unexpectedly thriving. Data from Decisiv’s latest SRM platform shows that Q4 2024 experienced a significant increase in service volume, breaking a two-quarter downward trend. For heavy-duty truck equipment managers, these developments indicate important changes in how and why trucks are entering service bays. Here’s what to anticipate in the coming months. “We had anticipated a rise between 3% and 5%, but the quarter concluded with a 4.7% increase in service operations,” mentioned Nick Pittenger, Decisiv’s vice president of data services, during a recent…

Sure! Here’s the paraphrased article formatted in HTML: Trucking news and updates for Friday, May 10, 2024: New Jersey Increases Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements New Jersey has enacted legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy in January that raises the minimum liability insurance for truck owners to $1.5 million. However, the exact scope of this increase remains ambiguous. Initially introduced in 2022, the bill was passed by both the state assembly and senate early in January and signed into law shortly after. The updated regulation stipulates that commercial motor vehicle owners must hold liability insurance of at least “an amount or…

Chris Herb, president and CEO of Connecticut Energy Marketers Association, speaks during a Nov. 13, 2023 press conference.Credit: Hugh McQuaid / CTNewsJunkie Fuel Sellers and Trucking Industry Oppose New Vehicle Regulations On Monday, representatives from fuel sellers and Connecticut’s trucking sector intensified their opposition to a proposal aimed at banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. They are urging a legislative review panel to dismiss the regulations in an upcoming decision. The proposal expects a vote from the bipartisan Regulation Review Committee on November 28, aiming to phase out new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 in line…

New English Proficiency Standards for Truck Drivers AUSTIN, Texas — In a significant announcement, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signed an order on Tuesday to reinstate stringent enforcement of English language proficiency standards for commercial truck drivers. This policy, supported by President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, signals a change in how the Department of Transportation will address driver qualification issues, emphasizing language compliance as a reason for putting drivers out of service. “We are officially rescinding the ill-advised 2016 Obama guidance,” proclaimed Duffy. He was referring to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s directive under President Barack Obama that…

ML-Truck Equipment Ltd. to Launch New Headquarters On May 26, 2025, ML-Truck Equipment Ltd. will officially open its new 18,000-square-foot head office, sales, and service center in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Expansive Inventory and Services This new establishment will offer a range of popular truck-mounted brands in British Columbia, including HIAB cranes, Moffett forklifts, Multilift hooklifts, LogLift forestry cranes, Effer cranes, along with both new and pre-owned work-ready truck packages tailored for the local market. Additionally, an enhanced parts department will maintain a comprehensive stock of genuine parts, complemented by six extra-large service bays. Strategic Location The new facility is situated…

According to Swiss Re, litigation expenses have led to a 57% rise in liability claims in the U.S. over the past decade, culminating in a peak increase of 7% in 2023. Understanding Social Inflation Social inflation refers to the phenomenon where insured liability claims escalate more rapidly than can be accounted for by economic conditions such as wage growth or consumer price inflation. This increase has been fueled by various factors, including systematic abuses in the legal process, third-party litigation funding (TPLF), and surging compensation settlements. Factors Contributing to Social Inflation The rise of social inflation in the U.S. can…