5 Key Updates In Trucker News You Need To Know This Month

The past year saw significant changes that will remake trucking’s future. As package needs stay high, carriers must change with problems like insufficient drivers, rising prices, and new tech shaking up usual work ways. 

This last month brought some vast updates that will affect future operations.

Here are five of the largest updates truckers need to know from the past month. 

1. New Hours of Service Regulations

In January 2024, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced modifications to hours of service rules for commercial drivers. The updated regulations provide greater flexibility by allowing drivers to pause their on-duty periods for short breaks without that time being deducted from the 14-hour driving window. 

Previously, any breaks drivers took to rest, eat, or complete paperwork were subtracted from their on-duty driving time. Under the new rules, drivers can now take a 30-minute break and restart their 14-hour clock, providing up to three additional hours of flexible driving time per day.

Furthermore, carriers and advocacy groups have been pushing for changes, arguing the old rules encouraged rushing and compromised safety. The FMCSA estimates the amendments could prevent 1,400 crashes and save 27 lives annually. According to recent Trucker News, while some safety organizations still have reservations, most in the industry view this as a practical revision balancing productivity and well-being.

2. Electric Truck Adoption Accelerates 

Saving money and helping the Earth is pushing big companies to invest more quickly in pollution-free trucks. Tesla showed plans to start selling a big electric semi after good tests. Other makers like Daimler, Volvo, and Navistar are launching their e-models, focusing on regional hauling and last-mile delivery.

Fleet owners react well to deals for electric trucks. Anheuser-Busch put in pre-orders for 800 Nikola e-vehicles to change its fleet. UPS also said to buy 10,000 electric cargo trucks from Arrival by 2025. The 2021 road bill set aside $7.5 billion to widen charging roads, helping the shift more.

While electric trucks cost more now than diesel, experts say full prices should even out within five years as battery tech improves. Electrification’s green benefits and energy safety give it a strong long-run push in trucking.

3. Autonomous Trucking Developments  

Self-driving truck tech has improved on highways over the last year. Waymo, through its Waymo Via shipping business, started moving cargo between Texas and New Mexico in 2021.

Tesla also began letting owners use its “Full Self-Driving” mode on limited roads, gathering valuable real-world data. Paccar—which owns Peterbilt and Kenworth—partnered with self-driving startup TuSimple to normally do Nuro deliveries between Phoenix and Houston without a safety driver.

However, autonomous trucks are still a few years from working alone outside set routes. Complex road fixes, unclear rules, and liability remain problems. The tech seems best for controlled places like ports or linking distribution centers on major divided highways with supervision. Applications in building areas or thick city areas still need to wait more.

4. Increased Fuel Prices Impact Operations

Russia’s attack on Ukraine caused diesel costs to rise sharply in early 2022 as global oil markets reacted hard. The average retail diesel price nationwide went above $5 per gallon for the first time, adding to worries over high prices. Spending more on fuel hugely increases carriers’ operation costs.

Some fleets added new fees on customer rates or changed pricing to lessen changing gas prices. Tech and routes using better routes can partly compensate for rising pump costs. Yet, short-tempered supply and unpredictable significant events leave the energy picture hard to know. As a large diesel user, trucking heavily relies on steady and not too pricey fuel.

Self-driver truckers especially feel that fuel prices are high and changing. With big carriers’ bargaining power, solo drivers can add fuel charges and pass costs onto shippers. High diesel costs threaten already-thin profit margins for small fleet owners and self-driver owners. Some are forced to park their trucks as fuel eats up most earnings. Others scramble to make up for expenses through longer hours or more loads. Keeping business going in an unpredictable market tremendously stresses single drivers and smaller companies. 

5. Driver Shortage Persists 

The driver shortage, mainly caused by an aging workforce and the need for more new ones, has remained a severe problem. With strong shipping needs during the economy’s comeback, carriers worked hard to recruit and keep skilled drivers. But more than just better pay is needed; as drivers say, long hours, time away from family, improving other career choices, and work conditions are barriers.

Carrier groups help make safety rules stricter and fix truck parking shortages to help drivers and their well-being. Pay has increased bit by bit, with some groups like TFI raising wages above $100,000, including bonuses. Trucking schools report more new students, but training and license backlogs keep happening. While the pandemic briefly made the missing driver number smaller, it will take sustained efforts to fundamentally fix long-term fundamental structural issues and attract younger talent to fulfill transportation needs.

Wrapping Up

The trucking industry plays a crucial but evolving role in the global economy. Carriers continue to navigate ongoing challenges and changes, finding innovative solutions to adapt. Technologies like AI-driven autonomous trucks and electric power offer promising advancements, provided they are developed with safety and collaboration at the forefront. In the meantime, attracting new drivers, stabilizing fuel prices, and creating a supportive infrastructure remain top priorities.

Collaborative efforts between government and private sectors can help the industry overcome immediate challenges and adapt for the future. Building resilient networks and addressing fundamental structural issues are essential for trucking to thrive amid current issues and future opportunities. Much like an African safari that requires careful planning and adaptation to unpredictable elements, the trucking industry must remain flexible and innovative to succeed in a dynamic landscape.