Selected COVID-19 and trucking industry news that may impact your business.
As of May 7, 2020:
How the wheels of justice turn during the pandemic
Overdrive
With widespread shelter-in-place orders and fewer vehicles on the road, how has law enforcement been affected? Read More
Pandemic Drug Test Guidance Offers Relief To Trucking Cos.
Law360
While the trucking industry has received some welcome relief in the guidelines on their alcohol and drug testing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, the guidelines do not provide complete exemptions from DOT testing requirements. Recognizing that there may be disruptions in mandatory drug and alcohol testing for truck drivers, guidance has been issued by the FMCSA. Read More
DMV closures slow CDL process, threaten recovery
FleetOwner
One month ago, 27 State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs) were closed, along with most government offices, due to COVID-19 concerns. If you wanted to obtain your commercial driver’s license (CDL) and join the trucking industry, or even a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) to get started, you had about a 50/50 shot that your state would allow it. Read More
Load volume showing ‘some signs of life’ as truck orders hit record low
CCJClass 8 truck orders plunged for the second consecutive month in April, hitting an unprecedented level of 4,000 units, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by FTR. Read More
FTR, Truckstop.com Track Recovery From COVID-19 Shutdowns
Work Truck
A new index from FTR Transportation Intelligence and Truckstop.com provides visibility on the state of the trucking market as anticipation of an economic restart grows. The COVID-19 Truck Freight Recovery Index shows a sharp mid-March drop that has remained stable for the past two weeks, indicating a bottoming out in the spot market. The index will allow freight professionals the ability to assess trucking activity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery from it. Read More
How America Is Thanking Truckers During the Coronavirus Crisis
Transport Topics
As America grapples with the coronavirus and daily life is altered, the nation’s truck drivers are among those who are risking their personal health and doing the hard work to keep products moving to stores, hospitals and elsewhere. And their effort is being recognized. Read More
Could surging Chinese imports signal a full freight recovery?
FreightWaves
Total U.S. maritime shipment volumes have grown to higher levels they were at prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered China’s production. The pandemic was starting to become a significant public health concern for China right around the time of their biggest holiday of the year, the Lunar New Year aka Chinese New Year (CNY). Import volumes from China typically slow for about four to six weeks following the holiday due to factories shutting down and taking time to ramp back up, making it difficult to tell just how much impact the virus was having on production. Read More