Author: Trucker Talk Radio

For many years, the trucking industry has concentrated on ensuring safety and efficiency, often measuring success through metrics like fuel optimization and compliance. However, one of the most significant yet frequently overlooked factors affecting fleet risk and profitability is driver stress and overall wellness. This issue has far-reaching consequences on highway safety, driver retention, fuel expenses, insurance costs, and maintenance among other factors. A recent study indicates that 68% of fleet professionals believe that driver stress adversely affects performance, and 86% acknowledge that the risk of accidents has escalated over the past five years. The average life expectancy for truck…

Introduction of RespondAir Heavy-Duty Rear Air Suspension Link Manufacturing has launched its new RespondAir heavy-duty rear air suspension system, specifically designed for fire and rescue vehicles. This innovative suspension system is rated for capacities between 30,000 and 35,000 pounds and operates without torque-reactive mechanics. Addressing Industry Needs Mark Molitor, the senior product manager at Link Manufacturing, stated, “Through extensive voice-of-customer research with fire departments and OEMs, we identified critical needs around maintenance, stability, and equipment protection. RespondAir exemplifies Link’s commitment over the last 26 years to provide tailored solutions that tackle common challenges and offer superior performance in emergency response…

Patterson Hood has long regarded Drive-By Truckers as a political band, but as the pandemic disrupts the music industry, he now sees them as a “personal band.” “It’s personal,” Hood states. “I’m without a job, stuck at home, unable to do what I love – which is performing live rock & roll. With no shows to play, our band has released two albums this year that we can’t tour behind.” In 2020, Drive-By Truckers released not one, but two significant albums: the poignant “The Unraveling” in January and the essential “The New OK” in October. The latter features infectious tracks…

Koffie Insurance Secures $11 Million in Series A Funding Brooklyn, NY, July 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Koffie Insurance, an insurtech specializing in financial services for the trucking and transportation industry, has successfully closed an $11 million Series A funding round. This brings the company’s total funding to $15.5 million. The financing round was spearheaded by Anthemis Group, known for investing in high-growth, digitally-focused financial service companies, and saw participation from existing investors Lerer Hippeau Ventures and Plug and Play Ventures. New backers in this round include CP Overture, Breakout Capital, Two Lanterns Venture Partners, and a select group of…

A comprehensive guide for the future of self-driving trucks has reached its final stage after four years of development. In 2020, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) along with 17 partners received a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a concept of operations. The final report, released in July, presents best practices for deploying automated driving systems (ADS) in large trucks, along with policy considerations for fleet operators across eight key areas. “We’re thrilled that the grant awarded to VTTI by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration not only met but surpassed the requirements for…

Truck Driver Shortage in the U.S. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, trucks are responsible for transporting 72% of the goods in the United States. The failure to adequately staff these trucks with drivers threatens to disrupt the U.S. economy. Currently, there is a significant shortage of truck drivers. Supporting Veterans in Trucking To address this issue, Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is launching the Drive for 500 campaign to assist U.S. military veterans in securing these truck driving positions. Job Opportunities in Trucking There are over 55,500 open positions in the…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – A new online platform has been launched by the City of Charlotte aimed at helping truck drivers find legal parking options throughout the city. City officials state that the Commercial Truck Parking Tool is intended to offer truck drivers easy and trustworthy access to safe and authorized parking locations. Increased Penalties for Illegal Parking This tool, which can be accessed through both an app and a desktop version, includes several essential features designed to benefit the trucking community: Searchable Parking Locations: Drivers can quickly locate available, legal, and secure parking lots by entering an…

CARB’s Authority and Federal Waivers The California Air Resources Board (CARB) operates as a state agency but relies on federal approval for its regulations through EPA waivers. For instance, CARB successfully obtained waivers for the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) and Omnibus programs, but has yet to receive a waiver for the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF), which makes ACF unenforceable. This dependency gives the Trump administration’s EPA some influence over CARB’s regulatory power, a control that is expected to be implemented during a potential second presidential term. Presidential Actions and Legislative Response During his first term, President Trump revoked a waiver…

Plans for a Truckers Convoy to Ottawa A western separatist and member of the far-right Yellow Vests Canada group has ambitious plans for a truckers convoy departing from British Columbia on Sunday, with its destination set for Ottawa. Response to Vaccine Mandates On January 20, Pat King spoke with evangelical Christian talk-show host Laura Lynn Tyler Thompson, revealing that the convoy intends to disrupt Ottawa as a protest against vaccine mandates. Critique of COVID-19 Measures King expressed that the government’s actions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are a deliberate “intentional squeeze” on the Canadian economy. Targeting the Senate “We’re…

Matthew James Collins, an Ohio resident, transports frozen foods like onion rings and ice cream across the Midwest. On a recent October morning, he was navigating through a snowstorm in Minnesota. Collins pointed out that he used to haul around 22 skids of frozen goods for four corporate clients last year, but now he’s down to only 12 skids serving two clients. The trucking sector’s performance often reflects the overall health of the U.S. economy, but current trends are puzzling. Economists are surprised by the high levels of consumer spending in the face of record inflation and rising interest rates,…