Matthew Leffler’s Post

Electric vehicles certainly have their advantages in local and shuttle applications, BUT NOT IN REGIONAL OR OTR TRUCKING! The taxpayers need to wake up, if the government has to subsidize it, it’s not economical - meaning it’s not time for it to happen! 🔗 Read more here bit.ly/3ZaPZnl

With the national truck driver shortage, volatile freight rates, and high input costs, it is no surprise that some trucking companies are operating at less than capacity. This can result in company owners or owner-operators reducing the size of their active fleet by sidelining vehicles. However, there are risks associated with parking vehicles for extended periods of time.

The number of rolls a truck driver can make in a given round depends on various factors such as the size of the truck, the distance of the route, the weight of the cargo, and any regulatory restrictions or company policies. Typically, a truck driver might make multiple stops or deliveries during a single round trip, especially if they are operating in a regional or local capacity. For long-haul trucking, drivers may cover greater distances in a single trip but may have fewer stops. It's important for truck drivers to adhere to regulations regarding driving hours, rest breaks, and maximum weight limits, which can affect the number of rolls they can make in a round. Additionally, factors like traffic conditions, weather, and road closures can also impact the number of deliveries a driver can complete within a round trip. Ultimately, the specific number of rolls a truck driver can make in a round would vary based on these factors and would be determined by the logistics of each individual delivery route.

Every time a driver accepts a cheap load, they are making it harder for the next driver to survive. Here’s how it goes: One driver takes a low-paying load... Maybe they need it just to keep their business running. Or maybe they think it’s better than sitting empty. But what happens next? That cheap rate becomes the new normal. Brokers use it to set expectations. The next load gets posted at the same or lower rate. And now, another driver who can’t afford to run at those numbers is forced to park their truck—or quit the industry altogether. It’s a vicious cycle. One that’s driving good people out of trucking and lowering the bar for everyone who’s left. We can’t control brokers. But we can control what we accept. Saying “no” to cheap freight isn’t just about protecting your business—it’s about protecting the future of trucking. What do you think? Do we fix this, or do we let the cycle keep spinning?

Every time a driver accepts a cheap load, they are making it harder for the next driver to survive. Here’s how it goes: One driver takes a low-paying load... Maybe they need it just to keep their business running. Or maybe they think it’s better than sitting empty. But what happens next? That cheap rate becomes the new normal. Brokers use it to set expectations. The next load gets posted at the same or lower rate. And now, another driver who can’t afford to run at those numbers is forced to park their truck—or quit the industry altogether. It’s a vicious cycle. One that’s driving good people out of trucking and lowering the bar for everyone who’s left. We can’t control brokers. But we can control what we accept. Saying “no” to cheap freight isn’t just about protecting your business—it’s about protecting the future of trucking. What do you think? Do we fix this, or do we let the cycle keep spinning?

Slow trucks clog the highway up Slow trucks are hard to pass, nothing like two trucks going 62 side by side on a highway where the speed limit is 70. Just a few examples… And, if saving money is so important, then why aren’t the drivers getting the benefits of that by better pay? Because it’s all about the company PROFIT, not about those who make the company profit! It goes like this, we drive slower and slower, make less and less money per week but we are expected to stay out 240 days a year, while those who we work for keep making more and more and more and are home every night. My cousin has been driving 18+ years and would fully support this post, 100% why not ask drivers like him, who have a lot of experience on this topic. Instead of following stats on a computer that aren’t reality, if there’s no drivers, the freight doesn’t “magically” get there. I don’t understand how this continues to be a confusing conversation, it’s super simple. Without drivers or freight, there’s NO movement in the economy. Stats on a sheet of paper don’t mean anything to a driver. He wants the real world experience, not some fantasy. 🙂

NEWS: The Biden regime pulls another rabbit out of its hat to try to force Americans out of their cars. The Biden regime could finalize new regulations this week that are intended to reduce gas-powered vehicle emissions as it continues to pressure Americans to transition from traditional gas-powered vehicles to electric ones. Transportation industry sources told Fox News that the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to issue the final rules for the new regulations as soon as Wednesday. While EPA officials have claimed that the new regulations will help incentivize Americans to transition to electric vehicles, opponents of the regulations argue that the new guidelines will “feel like a ban.” The regulations, which were first announced by the EPA in April 2023, would implement requirements on “light-duty and medium-duty vehicles” starting in 2027. Fox News reported that the Biden administration has projected that the regulations will lead to 67% of new sedans, SUVs, crossovers, and light truck vehicles being electric by 2032. The administration has also predicted that up to 25% of long-haul freight tractors, 35% of short-haul freight tractors, and 50% of buses and garbage trucks would be electric by 2032. Chet Thompson, CEO of American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, told Fox News: “President Biden has been clear since 2020 that he intends to use his federal agencies, and the State of California, to eliminate sales of new gas cars. While multiple administration policies push us toward this end, the EPA’s passenger vehicle standards will do most of the damage on their own — requiring approximately 70% of new car sales to be electric in less than eight years.” Thompson warned that the Biden regime’s policies are not only “bad for consumers” but will also “sacrifice our hard-won U.S. energy strength for even greater dependence on China” by making the United States dependent on electric vehicle batteries. Thompson also warned that the new regulations will significantly impact the ability of Americans to afford new vehicle purchases.

According to the latest report from American Transportation Research Institute, two of the top ten reported concerns for motor carriers in 2024 are driver shortage and retention issues. For a fleet with 100 units with an average turnover rate of 91% plus $10,000 cost per lost driver, this translates to a $910,000 expense for your company. We understand the challenges and financial strain of frequently replacing drivers, and we're here to help at PDA - People, Data, Analytics and would love to connect. #driverretention #trucking #transportation

Good News for Trucking Fleets Would an increase in TL rates of 10 to 23% help you out right now? You could get that and, regardless of where rates go you got the same deal! (1) What if you could reduce your fuel spending by 10%-23% net cost savings? (2) What if you could get a money-back guarantee with proof of results? Click the link and make both a reality for your fleet! https://lnkd.in/gH45vJnE

This blog from Dave Cooke at UCS digs deeper on the concerning behavior we are seeing in the truck market. Evergreen Action has asked state AGs and federal regulators to get to the bottom of this. https://lnkd.in/gAHYjZVV