Land Line Now

We have a better picture today of what direction the leadership of the U.S. Department of Transportation might take over the next few years. Also, we speak with Truckers Against Trafficking about efforts during Human Trafficking Awareness Month to educate people about this growing issue. And two states may change a law that could affect truck drivers in court. Meanwhile, Wyoming is looking at a new source of highway funding. 0:00 – Newscast 09:46 – A closer look at the nominee to head DOT 24:24 – Educating the public about human trafficking 39:23 – Tort reform on the agenda in two states

Two truckers are suing Minnesota over the state’s refusal to recognize their concealed carry permits. Also, we’ll report on what happened at the confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy, the president-elect’s pick to run the Department of Transportation. Then, Tom Crowley and Aron Lynch of OOIDA’s Compliance Department explain the basics of factoring and offer some advice on when to use it. And the spot market is expected to heat up this year. Brent Hutto with Truckstop says overall freight market rates are expected to increase. 0:00 – Sean Duffy spells out his vision for the DOT 09:46 – Truckers sue state over concealed carry refusal 24:24 – The upsides and downsides of factoring 39:23 – 2025 may be a hot year for the spot market

Will dealers in Oregon sell diesel trucks going forward, or not? And what does the state’s new Advanced Clean Trucks rule actually say? Also, we talk with the author of a children’s book on trucks about how a dog inspired the story. Then, Jeff McConnell and James Mennella of Road Law offer information about court case delays, appearing in court and more. And Collin Long of OOIDA’s Washington, D.C., office joins us with an update on the president-elect’s nominees to head the DOT and EPA. 0:00 – Electric truck effort causes confusion in Oregon 09:46 – Author hopes book will educate children about trucking 24:24 – What you need to know when going to court 39:23 – Senate meets this week with DOT, EPA nominees

A study seems to suggests FMCSA received truckers’ message that there are too many regulations. But something else is driving the issue. Also, an event by CVSA now underway is designed to involve truckers in the fight against human trafficking by helping them become more informed.  0:00 – Motivations of FMCSA warning device study in question 09:46 – Effort aims to educate truckers on human trafficking

Bryan Martin, the boss man at Chrome Shop Mafia, offers some of his picks for what should be on your wish list this year. Also, from a trucker who shut down an interstate highway to one who helped police catch a drunk driver, we’ll offer up some Roses and Razzberries. And OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis says he’s seeing some optimism among truckers about the year ahead – even though they may face some hard decisions. 0:00 – Newscast 09:46 – What’s on your 2025 wish list? 24:24 – Roses and Razzberries 39:23 – Truckers showing optimism toward 2025

OOIDA recently held a “fireside chat” to educate truckers on broker transparency. We bring you some of what was said at that event. Also, Jay Grimes goes over some of the basics of the broker transparency proposal, as well as what truckers can do. Then, a new year can sometimes bring new mental health challenges. We speak with therapist Buck Black about dealing with those. And truckers across the nation have been affected by predatory towing practices. Now, Missouri is taking another crack at dealing with the problem. 0:00 – OOIDA spells out what transparency proposal means 09:46 – Analysis: Explaining the broker transparency rulemaking 24:24 – Taking care of your mental health in the new year 39:23 – Missouri takes another crack at predatory towing

Full coverage of the recent Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee meeting on the truck parking crisis, from the role technology might play in addressing the problem to best practices and more. Then, we offer tips for ensuring your safety amid the rise in cargo theft and for avoiding the claims process. And lastly, things are finally looking up on the spot market as all that cautious optimism turns into relief and confidence. 0:00 – Newscast 9:56 – MCSAC meeting on truck parking crisis 24:25 – Ensuring your safety amid rise in cargo theft 39:24 – Market Update: from cautious optimism to relief and confidence

It seems like a day doesn’t go by without some sort of cybersecurity breach. Land Line Now talks with Ben Wilkens and Joe Ohr of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association about what they're seeing and how you can protect yourself. Also, express lanes are growing in popularity, but they aren’t without their problems. The Colorado DOT has hatched an enforcement plan to keep traffic moving and drivers safe. 0:00 – Fuel prices and freight rate predictions 10:06 – Cybersecurity and protecting yourself 25:00 – Colorado clamps down on express lane abuse

OOIDA’s leadership is taking some time to chat with you about broker transparency, why it’s an issue and what you can do about it. Also, the Federal Trade Commission was set to take action against predatory towing, but somewhere along the way, the agency failed to act. We’ll explain what happened. Then, the back-and-forth on beneficial ownership information and congestion pricing topped the big news of the past week. And OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis has seen some ELD damage – not damage to ELDs but, rather, damage to infrastructure by truckers pressed for time by their ELD. 0:00 – The reason the FTC isn’t going after predatory towing 09:46 – OOIDA fireside chat to break down broker transparency issue 24:24 – Big news week includes the back-and-forth on BOI 39:23 – Being rushed leads to ELD damage

We’re expecting new leadership at the U.S. Department of Transportation and big activity regarding regulations over the next few months. Also, the Truck Leasing Task Force recently wrapped up its mission of examining lease-purchase plans. And Truckstop’s Brent Hutto gives an overview of 2024 and a look ahead to the rest of 2025, as well as current market conditions. Then, Texas has just boosted its highway fund by nearly $3 billion dollars – all from an unexpected source – and is making big moves on toll roads. 0:00 – Lease-purchase task force exposes problems with the system 10:06 – What does new DOT leadership mean to you? 25:00 – The market in 2024 and what’s ahead in 2025 39:51 – A Texas-sized boost in highway funding

Truckers have many concerns regarding autonomous trucks – among them, cybersecurity. Also, Bryan Martin of Chrome Shop Mafia offers some advice for the owner of a 2003 Peterbilt 379 about trading in one set of keys for another. Then, the claims process can take a long time, but video footage can speed up that process and save you some money. And what sort of advice would you give four wheelers if you had the chance? One trucker recently offered some in a blog post that’s gone viral.   0:00 – Autonomous trucks raise cybersecurity concerns 10:06 – The role of sentimentality in choosing a truck 25:00 – How a dashcam could help you with a claim 39:51 – Some advice for the ones with four wheels

Carrier tracking and harassing phone calls from brokers spur many calls to OOIDA every day. We’ll summarize some of the topics involved. Also, driver pay and driver retention have been recurring themes throughout 2024, because their ripple effects extend throughout the industry. And several states are following California’s lead on emission rules – including Oregon, where efforts are underway to delay or stop the regulation. 0:00 – Pay and retention continued to be problems in 2024 10:06 – How to deal with harassment from brokers 25:00 – Oregon lawmaker fights new truck emission rule

Congress avoided a government shutdown, but now has to elect a new speaker and deal with the debt limit. Also, we’re going to look at worker classification in 2024. Then, staying fit while working as a trucker is difficult. That’s why Truckstop published a blog post dedicated to simple exercises. And whether you run interstate or intrastate can have a big impact in terms of the legal issues you might face. Alex Clark of CDL Legal explains. 0:00 – The battle over worker classification continues 10:06 – Some simple ways to stay fit on the road 25:00 – Legal issues often depend on whether you’re interstate or intrastate 39:51 – Congress moves on to the next crisis

A new ATRI report says not only is traffic congestion costly – it took $109 billion from trucking in 2022 alone. Also, it’s doubtful we went long this past year without mentioning emission rules or electric vehicles. We’ll review developments that occurred during 2024. Then, the topic of fraud might sound like a broken record, but being on the ball can make all the difference. And electronic message boards have become a fairly common sight along America’s highways – but sometimes, they don’t work correctly. 0:00 – 2024 was a watershed year for emission rules 10:06 – Study says traffic congestion costs us billions 25:00 – How can you avoid freight fraud? 39:51 – Highway tech doesn’t always work as it should

A federal appeals court made a decision that will reinstate a requirement that small businesses report beneficial ownership information. Also, 2024 brought up several big headlines regarding nuclear verdicts against trucking companies. We’ll review what happened. Then, FMCSA is keeping speed limiters and broker transparency on its radar going into 2025. And we’ll tell you about how delays by a shipper and a receiver, combined with a broker, created some very specific problems for one trucker. 0:00 – Nuclear verdicts blew up in 2024 10:06 – The battle over speed limiters, broker transparency continues 25:00 – What shipper, receiver delays did to one trucker 39:51 – Beneficial ownership information rule back on

Our rundown of 2024’s top trucking stories focuses on an issue that affects every trucker – bathroom access. Also, we present a trucker’s version of the classic holiday poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Then, what are five things you can do to your truck to get the most bang for your buck? Bryan Martin of Chrome Shop Mafia joins us with some advice. And we bring you our trucking versions of classic Christmas carols, most written and all inspired by longtime trucking writer Bill Hudgins. 0:00 – Progress on bathroom access in 2024 10:06 – “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” trucking style 25:00 – Five mods for your truck with the best bang for your buck 39:51 – The Hudgins Holiday Singalong

Respiratory illness season is here, and a federal program is encouraging prevention. Dr. Donald Dumford of the Cleveland Clinic explains. Also, our countdown of the top trucking stories from 2024 continues with a look at an issue that runs deep – freight rates and, by extension, broker transparency. 0:00 – Freight rates, broker transparency make big headlines in 2024 10:06 – Act now to prevent sickness later

Speed limiters in 2024 are less a story about what did happen and more about what didn’t. Mark Schremmer of Land Line Magazine explains. Also, ELDs and a relatively new technology called geofencing are replacing the CB radio as a way to warn truckers of hazards ahead on the road. And a love of driving is how many truckers start. That certainly holds true for Mary Wilson, whose work in a bus led to her job in a truck. 0:00 – Speed limiters in 2024 – a story about what didn’t happen 10:06 – New tech can warn truckers of hazards ahead 39:51 – A love of driving leads to a life behind the wheel

Rumors are swirling about the number of H-2B visas being issued for truckers, but a look at the facts shows a very different situation. Also, the week’s news was led by a court ruling on beneficial ownership information reporting, as well as emission rules and a junk fee regulation. Then, years ago, longtime trucking writer Bill Hudgins created some trucking versions of classic Christmas carols. We’ll bring you several today. And OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis says bad signage is behind a trend he’s seen of trucks going down a wrong road after finding a main route blocked. 0:00 – Fact check: Number of trucking H-2B visas is small 10:06 – You don’t have to file beneficial ownership information – for now 25:00 – Trucking Christmas Carols 39:51 – Avoid those ill-considered truck detours

A new federal agenda reveals FMCSA’s expected dates to deliver regulations regarding broker transparency, speed limiters and many other issues. Also, truckers live a unique lifestyle, and they have unique Christmas traditions. We’ll talk with several about what they’re doing for the holidays. Then, Michigan is facing a shortfall in money to maintain the state’s roads, and lawmakers are starting to talk about ways to bridge the gap. 0:00 – Newscast 10:06 – Broker transparency, more on FMCSA’s agenda 25:00 – A look at more of truckers’ Christmas traditions 39:51 – Michigan on the hunt for more road money