Land Line Now

We’ve entered a new era in the trucking industry, as the first truly driverless trucks haul freight on an American interstate highway. Also, Land Line Now has the latest on independent contractor rules, speed limiters and more. Then, summer brings higher heat and red-hot pavement. So some attention has to be paid to the components in your truck that might be affected. And the word “utility” typically means water or electricity and the like. But OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis heard trucking fits the definition of “essential utility.”

0:00 – Driverless trucks hit the roads – what does it mean?

10:05 – Big developments on independent contractors, speed limiters

24:32 – The top items on your truck’s summer prep list

39:32 – Is trucking an ‘essential utility’?

OOIDA President Todd Spencer says English proficiency is a matter of life and death. We hear from him about OOIDA’s fight to get this regulation enforced. Also, for three days every spring, commercial vehicle inspectors across the U.S. and Canada take part in International Roadcheck. And that starts this coming Tuesday, May 13. Then, from insurance costs and entry-level driver training to in-cab monitoring and cabotage, ATRI reveals its research priorities for 2025. And Mary Wilson, who got her start behind the wheel of a bus, talks about how that led her to a career in the trucking industry.

0:00 – Spencer: English proficiency a must

10:05 – Roadcheck’s coming soon – here’s what it’s all about

24:32 – ATRI prepares to delve into insurance, training and more

39:32 – Woman’s bus job led to trucking career

Truckstop says there’s more freight showing up in the spot market than normal, including one commodity that saw a 10-cent jump in rates. Also, predatory towing is a continuing problem – but regular towing isn’t cheap for truckers, either, and some say it’s getting even worse. And the North American Punjabi Trucking Association recently took an active role in urging FMCSA to get serious about broker transparency.

0:00 – Newscast

10:05 – More freight shows up in spot market

24:32 – The cost of towing a truck is on the rise

39:32 – Punjabi group joins the fight for broker transparency

Truckers hope the U.S. Department of Transportation will axe some regulations that fail to promote improved safety – and this might happen. Also, rates are at historic lows, so it’s more important than ever that truckers learn to negotiate. Then, secondary liability is important to many trucking operations. We’ll explain why it’s needed. And a new law now on the books in Arkansas is designed to put an end to predatory towing.

0:00 – Regulations: DOT eyes which ones to cut

10:05 – Want to do better? Learn to negotiate

24:32 – The importance of secondary liability

39:32 – Arkansas sets its sights on predatory towing

The U.S. DOT is looking for regulations to roll back, and it’s asking truckers to help. OOIDA has a few rules it would like to see changed. Also, we’re into a new tax year, and experts are encouraging you to start the year organized and on top of things. We’ll offer some advice. Then, who is an employee, and who is an independent contractor? The U.S. Department of Labor is out with its latest guidance for businesses.

0:00 – Newscast

10:05 – What regulations would you like to see rolled back?

24:32 – The time to get organized for taxes is now

39:32 – Labor Department changes course on worker classification

An OOIDA petition and presidential order made CVSA act quickly to return English proficiency to the out-of-service criteria for truckers. Also, tough times call for flexibility and agility – basically adjusting to the conditions in order to survive. So, how do you do that? And truckers have some strong opinions about the rule that they must be able to read and speak English sufficiently to operate safely.

0:00 – Newscast

10:11 – Analysis: How we got here on English proficiency

24:49 – Reinventing your operation to survive tough times

39:32 – English proficiency issue has truckers talking

Federal officials are working hard to make a reality of President Donald Trump’s executive order to require English-proficiency enforcement. Also, what could, or should, the next highway bill look like, and where are we with beneficial ownership information? We’ll have an update. And state senators in Nevada have approved a bill that would double the insurance requirements for in-state truckers. Now, the issue is in the state’s House of Representatives.

0:00 – Newscast

10:11 – English-proficiency effort gains steam

24:49 – The latest on the highway bill, BOI

39:32 – Nevada one step closer to doubling insurance requirement

The freight market remains in limbo, but Brent Hutto of Truckstop sees evidence that market conditions are headed in a good direction. Also, today is the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. We’ll bring you an encore of our story about two truckers who were there that day.

0:00 – Newscast

10:11 – Encore: Two truckers experience the fall of Saigon

39:32 – Truckstop: Signs the market is getting stronger

The president has ordered enforcement of the English-proficiency regulation. But how it’s enforced on the ground is going to be up to CVSA. Also, sometimes, past tickets can take you off the road in the present. The guys from CDL Legal discuss that and what to do when you get a scary letter. Then, Congress is discussing the state of the Highway Trust Fund, and OOIDA is letting lawmakers know what truckers need in that – and what they don’t.

0:00 – English proficiency – the ball’s in CVSA’s court

10:11 – When tickets come back for round 2 …

39:32 – What truckers need in a Highway Trust Fund fix

The U.S. DOT plans to set a policy for oversight of autonomous vehicles – just as one company gears up to test them on Texas roadways. Also, all traffic jams are not created equal, and some stand out nationally. An ATRI study has identified the nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks.

0:00 – Newscast

10:11 – A turning point for autonomous trucks?

24:49 – The nation’s worst traffic bottlenecks