As Truck Driver Appreciation Week rolls around, it’s time to look closer at what this country’s truck drivers actually do for us. Many times when we are at the supermarket, or ordering something from Amazon, we don’t appreciate how these goods find their way to us. All of the products sold in stores today have been moved across the country, and we usually don’t think of the long and complex path they took to get there.

On March 12th, 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FMCSA announced a change to the 2010 mandate for Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs). The old rule required certain fleets to use EOBRs for hours-of-service compliance. The new rule requires more technologically advanced Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to be used in most trucks by as early as 2016. The latest mandate consists of four parts: Mandating who uses ELDs, protections against driver harassment, hardware specifications, and rules pertaining supporting documents.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) will soon mandate the use of speed limiters, also known as speed governors or Electronic Control Modules (ECM), on large trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds. The rule targets trucks that typically travel on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher. No speed limit has yet been determined, but will likely be somewhere between 65 – 70 mph. Due to the estimated fuel cost savings for large carriers, many believe this rule will be passed sooner rather than later.

Preventing driver harassment is a focal point with the latest Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. The old rule, made in 2010, did not stop carriers from harassing drivers into breaking hours of service (HOS) rules.

Would you be willing to pay 5% more for products ordered online if they are shipped sustainably? A recent survey titled “Need for Green or Need for Speed Survey” conducted by the consulting firm West Monroe Partners revealed that 54% of eCommerce consumers are willing to pay the extra money.

It’s no secret that the U.S. infrastructure is in desperate need of repairs. In fact, there is $2 trillion worth of deferred maintenance in this country in roads, bridges, sewer systems, and water mains. President Obama recently announced the Build America Investment Initiative that will address many of the issues facing America’s infrastructure. Not only will repairs make the roads and bridges safer and more reliable for commuters and commerce, but it will support millions of jobs as well as create new ones.

With the variety of materials being shipped throughout the country every day, you’re bound to run into a problem or two along the way. Knowing how to solve these problems ensures a more efficient shipping process, and more importantly, a healthier bottom line. Here are some tips for freight shipping – commonly asked questions and problems that many shippers and 3PL providers experience on a daily basis.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is proposing a rule to eliminate Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIR) when a driver does not find any truck defects during a pre- or post-trip inspection (no-defect DVIRs). This comes after a similar rule was put in place in 2012 for Intermodal carriers. The new rule does not include passenger-carrying Commercial Motor Vehicles and does not significantly change any other requirements of inspection, repair, and maintenance rules. Here is a brief executive summary is given by the DOT:

The shortage of truck drivers is getting worse by the day. There are goods not being shipped, trucks left on lots, and qualified drivers leaving the industry for numerous reasons. One report from the ATA states there will need to be 1 million new drivers by 2024 to meet freight demand. The driver shortage is approaching dangerous levels.