Author: Trucker Talk Radio

A Walmart truck driver from Texas, who prefers to remain anonymous due to company policy, stated he has 15 years of work left and plans to spend that time driving for Walmart. He remarked, “Unless I win the lottery or marry someone wealthy, I don’t envision leaving.” This level of commitment to one employer is rare in the trucking industry, which is known for its high turnover rates. Walmart attracts such loyalty because it offers competitive pay; drivers can earn up to $110,000 in their first year, significantly higher than the national average for truck drivers and the typical pay…

Engine emissions are a critical concern in the heavy-duty trucking sector, particularly with upcoming regulations such as EPA GHG ’27, which mandates an 80% reduction in NOx emissions. Despite potential political changes that could alter compliance timelines, fleets need to start adapting now for these inevitable shifts. Effective maintenance of aftertreatment systems—especially the diesel particulate filter—can aid fleet managers in maximizing vehicle availability and complying with new regulations. Proactive vs. Reactive Truck Aftertreatment Maintenance JT Roberson, strategic sales manager at Ceramex, outlines two distinct approaches to DPF and aftertreatment maintenance among fleet operators: Reactive aftertreatment maintenance: Fleets adopting this method…

Tractor-Trailer Driver Rescued from Suspended Cab For nearly an hour, a tractor-trailer driver found herself stuck in the cab of her vehicle, which was precariously hanging over the Ohio River from the side of a bridge in Kentucky following a multi-vehicle accident last Friday. Emergency responders on the bridge provided instructions to the trapped driver. Crews quickly established a rope system and lowered firefighter Bryce Carden from Louisville, Kentucky, to facilitate the rescue. “Thank God,” the driver exclaimed when Mr. Carden reached her cab, a moment he recounted during a news conference on Friday. Initially, Mr. Carden faced challenges in…

Federal Charges Filed Against Individuals Linked to California Insurance Company OAKLAND, Calif. — Three individuals associated with a now-defunct California insurance agency, which specialized in automobile liability insurance for truck drivers and small trucking firms, have been indicted on fraud charges in federal court. Charges Unveiled In a news announcement from United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp and San Francisco Division Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez, it was disclosed that a federal grand jury indictment was made public on December 19. The accused—Jasbir S. Thandi, Sandeep Sahota, and Jaspreet…

Presidential Authority on Tariffs The president possesses extensive, albeit contested, power to implement tariffs on imports and exports. Both political parties show general support for imposing tariffs on imported goods. However, tariffs may significantly influence the trucking industry in the upcoming 2024 elections. Convergence in Policy for Blue-Collar Votes “There are notable disparities between the candidates concerning social issues, tax strategies, and traditional government practices. Nevertheless, the race for blue-collar votes has surprisingly led to similar policies aimed at enhancing domestic employment through increased local production, often at the expense of free trade,” stated Sharma. Direct Impact of Import Tariffs…

Challenges for Women in the Trucking Industry The trucking industry has long voiced concerns about a significant shortage of drivers. However, some women argue that trucking companies have created barriers that make it nearly impossible for them to secure driving positions. Hiring Practices Disadvantage Women Many trucking companies often do not hire female applicants unless they have other women available to serve as trainers. With less than 5 percent of truck drivers in the U.S. being women, there is a limited pool of female trainers accessible, making it difficult for women to gain entry into the field. Gender-Specific Training Policies…

A New Journey for Jalaja Jalaja dedicated 19 years to being a homemaker after marrying Ratheesh, a truck driver. At 42, she felt envious of her husband’s travels around the country and expressed a desire to join him on a trip to Kashmir for their wedding anniversary. However, Ratheesh said she could only accompany him if she drove the truck. Taking the Wheel Despite having obtained a heavy licence in 2018, Jalaja had never been interested in driving trucks. However, under Ratheesh’s encouragement, she decided to take the wheel, and after ten days of travel, they arrived in the beautiful…

Monitoring trends in the trucking industry can be akin to observing the stock market—short-term declines might indicate a slowdown, yet long-term trajectories often provide a clearer perspective. This is the observation made by Nick Pittinger, the vice president of data services at Decisiv, based on the latest truck service data from Q3 2024. Even with a quarter-over-quarter decline, service activity is on the rise year-over-year, shedding light on fleet management and maintenance strategy. Quarterly Service Activity: A Decline or a Shift? In Q3 2024, fleets executed 1,059,058 service operations using the Decisiv SRM platform—a 3.6% decrease from Q2 and a…

Introduction to Paradise Highway Anna Gutto’s *Paradise Highway*, which is now available digitally, presents a compelling thriller centered around Juliette Binoche’s character, Sally. Sally is a truck driver in middle America who leads a mundane life while awaiting her brother Dennis’s release from prison. Portrayed by Frank Grillo with a unique blend of toughness and charm, Dennis serves as the catalyst for the film’s intense drama, inadvertently entangling Sally in a human trafficking operation involving a young girl named Leila (Hala Finley) and attracting the attention of governmental figures like Gerick (Morgan Freeman) and Finley (Cameron Monaghan). Character Dynamics and…

A new bill proposing a 566% increase in minimum liability insurance for motor carriers has re-entered Congress. On December 22, Representative Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a Democrat from Illinois, introduced the Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act, which aims to raise the required minimum insurance coverage from $750,000 to $5 million. Representative Hank Johnson, a Democrat from Georgia, joined Garcia in presenting this legislation. This initiative, while under a different title, is not unprecedented. In previous Congressional sessions, Garcia attempted to elevate the minimum insurance amount to $4.9 million in 2019 and $5 million in 2021, but neither of those…