The Daily Trucker

Cliff Wilkins of Wilkins Chrome Shop takes us on a tour of his Semi turned motor home that he likes to call the Peterbago on this week’s Wednesday Feature.

On this week’s Monday Feature, the Truck Boss team talks with Central Tech Truck Driver Training School in Drumright, OK about their curriculum, facility and more.

On this week’s Friday Feature, Carlin and Isela take us on a tour of one of the coolest truck stops in Oklahoma, The Gore’s Travel Plaza, in Seiling, OK.

On this week’s Wednesday Feature, we are visiting Wilkins Truck Supply — an Oklahoma treasure trove for drivers! Check out this awesome chrome shop you can see when you drive into Tonkawa, Oklahoma!

On this week’s Monday Feature, Carlin talks with Bolt Custom Trucks about their custom sleepers when it comes to customization, benefit, cost and more. They also take us through the installation in the warehouse. These sleepers are just down right awesome!

On this Feature Friday, we are talking with Tamera Sturgis, star of the show Shipping wars, about life in the spotlight and what she enjoys about life on the road.

The Little Guy’s new rig designed specifically for him. It’s a dream come true!

In this Monday Feature, Isela takes us back to GATS where we talk with Ronald Mendez who is the star of the hit Discovery Channel show Texas Trocas and the owner of Texas Chrome Shop.

On this Feature Friday, we’re joined by one of YouTube’s biggest names, Peterbilt Steve – as we tell you about the Peterbilt 389.

Happy Wednesday! We are taking a tour of 4 State Trucks with the one and only Bryan ‘The Bossman’ Martin as he shows us anything and everything truckers need.

In this Monday feature, we shift through the myths of marijuana and truck driving, and why it might be a good idea to put down it down even if its legal in your state.

Its Feature Friday! On this episode we sit down with YouTube Star and truck driver, Angelica Larsson, about what’s going on in the social scene.

Truck Boss Show’s Niki Snyder sits down with Dr. Dixon on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and hair follicle testing.

We sit down with a charity organization designed to reunite truck drivers and their families in a crisis event. Check out this feature on Truckers Final Mile.

On this week’s Feature Friday, Carlin speaks with ARTI about what the reports might bring in for 2021. Check it out!

Hey everyone! It’s time for your Thursday Daily Trucker News Update! We have a lot of news to cover today, including: The rate of positive driver drug tests compared to last year The postponement of the North American Commercial Vehicle Show And exciting news about the Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge So, let’s get trucking! Britnee: First we start with the rate of truck driver positive drug tests are steady with last year’s rate. The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse says the first three months of this year remain on pace with last year’s, and the number of drivers who have yet to enroll in return-to-duty programs unfortunately remains low. As of April 1, there were just over 14 -thousand driver positive drug tests recorded this year, compared with almost 56-thousand failures during all of 2020. The majority of the positive tests were for marijuana, followed by cocaine. Marijuana positive drug tests represented nearly 58% of all positive drug tests and officials report that some truck drivers don’t realize they are not permitted to use marijuana at all, despite the fact it could be legal in their state for medical or recreational use. Drivers who fail their drug tests must enroll in a return-to-work program, and pass a drug test before they are permitted to get back behind the wheel. Carlin: We’ve all be trying to answer it… besides more drivers what can we do to feed the trucking demand? Some are wondering if rapidly increasing warehousing costs and shrinking warehouse capacity will push shippers to keep their freight moving. Inventory costs have been growing at the fastest rate recently while warehouse capacity continues to shrink at a near record pace, according to the Logistics Managers Index. Right now, inventory costs are increasing as fast as they have since the index was created in 2016 with a record value of 84.58 in April and the warehouse capacity measure is below 50 since the summer of 2020: dropping in each of the first four months of this year — meaning shippers have less space to store their stuff. According to the LMI survey, many people do not believe transportation costs will ease over the next year: meaning companies will most likely explore multiple solutions. For-hire trucking is still the best solution, even with higher costs. Increasing warehouse prices will continue to support more freight movement and a robust spot market as shippers look for the best solution. The LMI says visibility is the cheapest option in a crazy market. Britnee: Well organizers of The North American Commercial Vehicle Show postponed the event for 2021. The show was scheduled for Sept. 28th through 30th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The decision came after manufacturers and fleets explain they are still worried about traveling and attending large gatherings with the lingering effects of COVID-19. There is also a growing number of events for Fall 2021 and they are all competing with one another – that ultimately factored into the decision. NACV organizers will share information regarding its future plans in July. Carlin: Continental will celebrate its 150th year in business October 8th. The Germany-based automotive parts manufacturing company known to be some of the best semitruck tires in the industry employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets. The company was founded in 1871, and began as a tire and rubber manufacturer. Continental Tire North America Inc. came about after the company acquired tire manufacturer General Tire in 1987 and is a key milestone in its transformation from a local manufacturer of tires and soft rubber products to an international technology company. The company now has nearly 15,000 employees in the United States. Britnee: Here is some fun news for you – the Truck Boss team is going to be at the Onaway Speedway in Michigan for the Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge over the upcoming Memorial weekend. We are going to bring you behind the scenes of the races, all of the live action and we’ll be handing out a ton of swag! The Great Lakes Big Rig Challenge is a Quebec style uphill side by side Semi Truck drag racing competition and can only be found in one location in the United States which is the Onaway Speedway. Competitors will be hooked up to trailers loaded down with 123 thousand pounds of lumber and race uphill. It’s going to be wild! And that’s not all – our good friend Tony Justice along with other musical artists will also be there perform. If you are in the area, you definitely want to check it out. You can purchase tickets and find event details at their website listed below. Carlin: And always we like to end on a good note! Check this out this bad boy that hit the lake this weekend! This custom semi-truck boat caught all the attention as it sped by and honked its horn. It really looks like its hauling on the water! That does it for today’s update! Tune in tomorrow for all the trucking news you need!

Hey everyone! It’s time for your Wednesday Daily Trucker News Update! We have a lot of news to cover today, including: More news on the Volvo UAW strike Border Patrol agents make another discovery Is TikoTok the new, hip way to advertise for more drivers? You’ll see coming up! So, let’s get trucking! Britnee: First, we start with more on the Volvo and UAW saga… Then United Auto Workers Union rejected a five-year labor agreement with Volvo Trucks North America and covering approximately 29-hundred employees at Volvo’s New River Valley truck assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia. You’ll remember that initial negotiations began in February after an April 17 strike by members of the union at the Dublin plant. The two groups then reached a tentative agreement on April 30, and the employees went back to work. Members of UAW Local 2069 are continuing to work, and as the UAW goes back to the bargaining table. There are 33- hundred people employed at the Volvo New River Valley plant and 29-hunred are UAW members. Carlin: Here’s an update to a story we covered last week…. The closure of a bridge connecting Arkansas and Tennessee could cost the trucking industry more than $2.4 million a day. The Hernando de Soto Bridge on I-40 shut down abruptly last week when inspectors discovered a “significant fracture” in one of two 900-foot horizontal steel beams that are crucial for the bridge’s integrity. According to Tennessee DOT repairs could take months and says the closure of the I-40 bridge creates bottlenecks and delays impacting around 26,500 trucks who rely on the major freight corridor that connects east and west. The hefty $2.4 million per day price tag could ultimately be passed onto the consumer. Officials say the bridge could remain closed between 6 to 8 weeks, but the good news? Boat and barge traffic under the bridge, on the Mississippi River near Memphis, resumed quickly after being closed for three days. Britnee: Border Patrol Agents discovered over half a ton of marijuana hidden in the floorboards of a semi truck’s trailer crossing into the US from Mexico. Agents working at the Pharr International Bridge came across the empty tractor trailer and decided to take a closer look. What did they discover? the trailer’s floor was loaded with 300 packages of alleged marijuana, with a street value of $250 thousand. Border Patrol agents seized the drugs and the tactor trailer and turned the case over to Homeland Security. Carlin: SelecTrucks, is celebrating its expanding network with the opening of SelecTrucks of Los Angeles in Carson, California and renaming the current  location, SelecTrucks of Fontana. The North American retailer of used trucks says with two locations serving the greater Los Angeles area, customers have more opportunities to find the truck to fit business needs. For over 50 years, SelecTrucks Centers have offered a selection of used trucks, warranty packages, financing terms and business support. SelecTrucks of Fontana and SelecTrucks of Los Angeles are members of the Velocity Truck Center family of dealerships. SelecTrucks of Los Angeles is located at 21107 Chico St. in Carson, California. SelecTrucks of Fontana will remain at 13750 Valley Blvd. in Fontana, California. Britnee: Amid the truck driver shortage, one Maine Industry group thinks they have a way to fix it! The Maine Motor Transport Association is targeting the Gen Z and young millennials with the “Go, Your Way” campaign using TikTok, YouTube and Instagram to educate and attract workers born in 1997 or after. The campaign educates on the importance of the trucking industry as a path young workers should think about by discussing its: steady work, good wages, as a way for college students to pay off school debt, and high school students to have a career without going to college. Maine has more than 53-hundred trucking companies, and more than 84 percent of its communities depend exclusively on trucks to move their goods, according to the ATA. In Maine, drivers can make from $49 thousand to $58 thousand annually plus bonuses. In most states you must be 18 years old to obtain a Commercial Drivers License. However in Maine you only have to be 16 to operate “Intrastate” and “Interstate” regulations require all CDL drivers to be 21 years of age nationwide. Carlin: Well check this out! Last week, Nevada drivers came to a standstill at an unusual sight… A dust devil made for an awesome sight along Interstate 15 near Palace Station while drivers slowed to take a look. The calm, clear, and warm conditions made for the perfect weather conditions for the dust devil to touchdown. Dust devils are pretty quick-lived and rare, forming in an upward motion from the ground to the sky. That does it for today’s update! Tune in tomorrow for all the trucking news you need!

Hey everyone! It’s time for your Tuesday Daily Trucker News Update! We have a lot of news to cover today, including: A compromise on infrastructure could be on the way What’s happening on Tennessee Highways that has law enforcement on edge And how many autonomous trucks from TuSimple have been pre-ordered So, let’s get trucking! Carlin: Republican congressional leaders say it may be possible to reach an agreement on an infrastructure plan after meeting May 12 with President Biden at the White House. Biden and House and Senate GOP leaders, Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell all agreed the meeting was constructive – and an agreement can be reached. But McCarthy and McConnell said they had told Biden they would not revisit 2017 tax cuts enacted under former President Donald Trump, ruling out Biden’s proposal to raise the corporate rate from 21% — calling it their “red line.” The Republican leaders also said they want to define infrastructure to physical projects like roads and bridges instead of the broad definitions in Biden’s proposed plan. Britnee: More than 60 organizations representing the trucking, agriculture, construction, manufacturing, materials, and towing industries are petitioning members of the U.S. House of Representatives to reject an increase of motor carriers’ minimum liability insurance requirements. In the letters – the groups say the increase is unnecessary and won’t improve safety… They go on to say the 750-thousand-dollar minimum requirement covers more than 99 percent of damage in crashes involving commercial vehicles. Right now, there’s a proposal to increase the insurance minimum to as much as $4 million. Carlin: A traffic stop for speeding led to the arrest of a California driver Dejohntae Williams on multiple drug charges in Indiana. On May 7, an Indiana State Trooper pulled over a rig driven by Williams, for speeding on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis. While speaking with Williams, the trooper noticed the odor of marijuana coming from the truck. Further investigation and search of the vehicle revealed about 162 pounds of methamphetamine, along with a small amount of marijuana. Williams was arrested and is facing pending federal drug charges. Britnee: Law enforcement in Murfreesboro, Tennessee are looking into several shootings on State Route 84, I-840 and I-24… Several people reported having guns pointed at them, one driver even had their window shot out. Several people have been arrested in relation to these cases… But there are still a lot of unanswered questions so if you have any information on these string of shootings… reach out to the Murfreesboro Police Department. Carlin: Autonomous Trucker TuSimple says it has almost 7-thousand reservations for new Level 4 International LT Series autonomous trucks. Level 4 autonomous driving means the vehicle does not require human intervention if there’s a problem. The self-driving trucks, developed in partnership with Navistar, will be equipped with TuSimple’s autonomous driving system and manufactured by Navistar beginning in 2024. Among the first customers are Penske Truck Leasing, Schneider, and U.S. Xpress, among others … TuSimple’s Autonomous Freight Network currently operates a fleet of 50 Level 4 autonomous trucks across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The company plans to expand the AFN network coast-to-coast by 2023… Britnee: The UPS Foundation announced a $1 million commitment to fight the COVID-19 surge in India. UPS says it is working with a wide variety of strategic partners, including UNICEF, CARE, The Salvation Army, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and others to get critical medical supplies including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, PPE, COVID-19 test kits and antiviral medications to India. That does it for today’s update! Tune in tomorrow for all the trucking news you need!

Hey everyone! It’s time for your Monday Daily Trucker News Update! We have a lot of news to cover today, including: More federal help to address the colonial pipeline emergency What happened to a major bridge that caused traffic delays in two states And incredible video of a 9-vehicle crash in Idaho Anchor 1: So, let’s get trucking! Carlin: The U.S. Department of Transportation announced additional measures to help states that have been impacted by the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline. The pipeline, which spans more than 5,500 miles from Texas to New Jersey, halted operations due to a ransomware attack that has been linked to a criminal gang. The DOT determined that states covered by presidential disaster declarations may use interstate highways to transport overweight loads of gasoline and other fuels. This comes after a declaration issued by the FMCSA, which provided relief from hours-of-service regulations to truckers helping the petroleum supply chains along the East Coast. Britnee: The American Trucking Association is calling for Congress to adopt legislation designed to improve connectivity across commercial corridors and ensure long-term funding for highway programs. ATA President Chris Spear says the legislation would result in well-functioning commercial corridors that promote economic competitiveness and prosperity. According to ATA, trucks are bound to remain the dominant freight transporter — this year it’s projected to move about 70-percent of the country’s freight. Over the next 10 years, trucks will transport about 2 and half billion additional tons of freight than current levels. Carlin: This is a problem we may start seeing a lot more often… A major interstate bridge shut down after inspectors found structural cracks. The I-40 bridge crossing the Mississippi River connecting Arkansas and Tennessee is closed indefinitely – forcing drivers to use a 71-year-old bridge linking Memphis and Arkansas until the 48-year-old, almost 2-mile bridge is repaired and safe. The 2020 National Bridge Inventory report said the bridge was in fair condition, with all primary structure elements sound… But, I think it’s safe to say the bridge probably needs an upgrade. Britnee: Shell is planning not one, but two cross-country trips to showcase its futuristic fuel-efficient rig, the Shell Starship 2.0. Originally there was only one trip planned, but now the company plans to host two to have more results and data to share, with the hope it will lead to a better understanding of the relationship of featured technologies and efficiency. The two trips will start in San Diego and end in Jacksonville, Florida – the first will happen in May while the second will happen in August. Carlin: The Idaho State Police are investigating after a 9 vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in Boise that left several people in the hospital… Look at this video from KTVB – according to their report, a semi hauling lumber had caught fire after a driver made a sudden lane change and hit the semi, causing it to sideswipe another vehicle and hit the median, sparking the fire before it jackknifed another semi… The driver of the semi that caught fire had to jump from the cab in order to get to safety… Britnee: Wyoming is looking to add more truck parking and truck passing lanes to Interstate 80… WYDOT says crews have started working on the I-80 Winter Freight project between Rawlins and Laramie – one eastbound and the other westbound. Officials say the truck passing lanes will help move traffic more efficiently and help prevent crashes… The project will also add 100 truck parking spaces in two locations, one near Quealy Dome Road and the other at Fort Steele. That does it for today’s update! Tune in tomorrow for all the trucking news you need!

On this week’s Feature Friday, Isela gives us a tour of an awesome Peterbilt that has been transformed into a boat! Check it out!