August 1, 2019
News and Events

Beat the Heat

Summer is in full swing, we’ve already seen record breaking temperatures around the country and will no doubt see more high temps during August. Below is a list of things you can do to beat the heat.


Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinks containing caffeine will only make you thirstier and while they taste good, they actually make you more dehydrated. Try freezing a bottle of water to have on hand for those extra hot days.


Say Stress Free: The summer heat only adds more stress when things go bad on the road. Plan your trips carefully. Avoid rush hours, long stretches of highway driving in the middle of the day and keep your emotions under control. Road rage is more frequent in the summer heat, avoid putting yourself in that position. Remember, the other guy is just as hot as your are.


Relax and Stretch: Take a little time to unwind. Find some shade or air conditioning and stretch your arms and legs every now then. Don’t hop out of the bunk and plop down behind the wheel. Give yourself a little time to think about the work day ahead.


Sunscreen: Use it! Recent reports reveal the cheaper the sunscreen the more effective. A small price to pay to avoid sunburn. Place a cool damp towel around your neck when fueling or doing your inspection. Stay cool!


Get Plenty of Rest: Being tired only make you hotter. A good night’s sleep and a little nap in the afternoon will keep your energy from being zapped by the heat.

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Poll Results

How long have you been a professional truck driver

Less than one year 21.88%

One to two years 7.81%

Two to three years 4.69%

Three to five years 8.59%

Five to ten years 10.94%

Ten or more years 46.09%

Total Replies : 128

ATA Releases Updated Driver Shortage Report and Forecast

The American Trucking Associations released its latest examination of the driver shortage, finding the industry needed 60,800 more drivers at the end of 2018 to meet the country’s demands for freight services.


“Over the past 15 years, we’ve watched the shortage rise and fall with economic trends, but it ballooned last year to the highest level we’ve seen to date,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The combination of a surging freight economy and carriers’ need for qualified drivers could severely disrupt the supply chain. The increase in the driver shortage should be a warning to carriers, shippers and policymakers because if conditions don’t change substantively, our industry could be short just over 100,000 drivers in five years and 160,000 drivers in 2028.”

The report, which can be downloaded here, details the factors that contribute to the shortage, including an aging driver population, increases in freight volumes and competition from other blue-collar careers. It also outlines potential market and policy solutions. While the report covers the entire trucking industry, the bulk of the shortage is in the over-the-road for-hire truckload market

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ATA Praises DOL Opinion Letter on Sleeper Berth Time

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear recently thanked the Department of Labor for issuing an opinion clarifying that time spent in the sleeper berth does not count as compensable time.


“ATA welcomes today’s opinion letter from DOL Wage and Hour Division Administrator Cheryl Stanton that concluded time spent by a commercial driver in the sleeper berth does not count as compensable hours under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, unless the driver is actually performing work or on call.


"This opinion, which is consistent with decades-old DOL regulations, the weight of judicial authority, and the long understanding of the trucking industry, clears up confusion created by two recent court decisions that called the compensability of sleeper berth time into question.“ATA commends Acting Secretary Pizzella and Administrator Stanton for adopting a straightforward, plain-language reading of the law, rather than the burdensome alternative interpretation embraced by those outlier decisions.


“ATA also commends the Department for making guidance like this available through opinion letters, which provide an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand their compliance obligations prospectively, rather than settling such matters only after the fact, through costly and wasteful litigation.”

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Latest Survey

The TruckDriver.com How Long Has This Been Going On Survey results are in and it kind of reflects what the driver shortage article above says. Which leads us to the TruckDriver.com Enough is Enough Survey.

Until next time, keep cool and keep on truckin' please drive safely.

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We do like to hear from you and invite you to let us know how we can
improve the e-Report. Please send your ideas and suggestions to:
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