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🚚107 million (almost a record) to hit highways for Christmas, New Year🎄 If your driving has you on the road during the upcoming holidays, expect to have plenty of company as some 107 million people are expected to travel to their holiday destinations by car. AAA projects a total of 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the year-end holiday period from Saturday, Dec. 21 to Wednesday, Jan. 1. This year’s domestic travel projection narrowly surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by 64,000 travelers. AAA expects an additional 3 million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.

⚖️A DOT Audit Begins Now: Confidential Data at Risk⚠️ The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is working to protect personal data. This includes personally identifiable information (PII). The effort follows a major data breach in May 2023. That breach affected the Federal Transit Benefit Program. Now, the DOT’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) is starting an audit. This DOT audit will check how well the DOT protects sensitive information. It will also find ways to improve.

🚚Trucking Regulations in 2025: What Drivers and Carriers Need to Know⚖️ The trucking industry is heading into 2025 with the anticipation of significant regulatory changes. These updates are expected to focus on advancing safety, embracing technology, and tackling sustainability issues, all while impacting the freight transportation landscape. Here’s a breakdown of the key regulations expected in 2025 and how you can prepare for them. ⚖️Speed Limiter Mandate ⚖️Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Systems ⚖️Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Expansion ⚖️Safety Measurement System (SMS) Revisions ⚖️Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Updates

🛣Tennessee roadways still seeing tractor trailers in places they shouldn’t⚠️ Residents in a Tennessee town say that a state-implemented tractor trailer restrictions on local roadways has done little to prevent the trucks from traveling the roadways. Back in October, Tennessee state and local officials implemented a rule banning trucks over 30 feet long from traveling on State Route 116. Since then, Anderson County locals say truck traffic has decreased, but has not stopped, and is still creating dangerous situations.

⚖️New FMCSA guidance on HOS ag exemption, rear impact guard labels The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week issued a new guidance document to provide clarity around the requirements for rear impact guard certification labels. On rear impact guards, FMCSA posed the question of whether an “illegible, incomplete, or missing rear impact guard certification label” establishes a violation of 49 CFR 393.86(a)(6), or if it indicates that the impact guard did not meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s strength and energy absorption requirements applicable to manufacturers at the time the trailer was built.

🚚Truck Maintenance Checklist For Winter❄️ As winter approaches, truckers face unique challenges on the road, requiring careful preparation to ensure safe and efficient travel. From maintaining optimal traction to protecting the engine from freezing temperatures, here are essential steps truckers should take to ensure their trucks are ready for winter driving. ✔️1. Check tires and tire pressure ✔️2. Replace the wipers ✔️3. Check fluid levels ✔️4. Fill up with winterized fuel ✔️5. Use snow chains ✔️6. Stock up on kitty litter or salt ✔️7. Keep the fuel tank at least half full

🚚So, you want to be a trucker? Make sure you’re up for the challenge There’s little doubt that driving a truck professionally can be a rewarding career. Compared to other career choices, the training can be less inexpensive and require much less time. Often, the training is employer-sponsored, meaning that new entrants to the profession can receive training for free. It’s not unusual for a driver to make trucking a second career after retiring from the military, being laid off after a plant closure or simply tiring of his or her current job. Many drivers have transitioned to trucking with great success.

⚖️DOT proposes change to drug-testing rules⚠️ DOT regulations require that a collection be directly observed in certain circumstances, such as if the original sample was invalid without adequate medical explanation or the test is for a return to duty. If, during the interim period, a collection site is able to conduct an oral fluid collection (HHS has certified at least two oral fluid drug testing laboratories, and both a qualified oral fluid collector and a conforming oral fluid collection device are available at the collection site), an oral fluid collection would be required to be conducted.

🚚Latest employment numbers support optimistic freight market outlook headed into 2025❗️ In the wake of disruptive hurricanes, a major port strike and a pivotal presidential election, trucking jobs increased in November, strengthening beliefs that the multi-year freight recession is nearing an end. According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 3,000 trucking jobs were added to the economy in November. This marked the fifth monthly gain in 2024 and the third increase in the past four months. The unemployment rate rose by 0.1 to 4.2%. Compared to the previous year, the unemployment rate for transportation and material-moving occupations decreased from 6% to 5.7.

How To Reduce Risky Truck Driver Injuries Truck Driver Injuries are common due to road risks and accidents. Learn about these injuries and ways to reduce them for safer driving and improved well-being. Truck drivers play a key role in moving goods across the country. However, they face many risks while on the road, which can lead to injuries. This article looks at different types of Truck Driver Injuries, especially from accidents, and highlights steps to help reduce these risks.