 For the months of July and August it is normally expected that the sales of big rigs slow down. However, this year for the month of August, sales were 49% higher than they were in August of 2016. With 21,200 class 8 trucks being ordered in August it gives it a 13% increase over July. Demonstrating a consecutive three-month increase for truck sales. Normally the highest volume of orders is in October when companies trade out their old trucks or expand their fleets. This increase portrays how the growth of freight is also being reflected in the sale of trucks. Not only can it be seen in the rise of contracting prices but the manufacturers of trucks and equipment. For example, the truck maker Navistar International had a net income of $37 million in the third quarter compared to 2016 when they had a $34 million loss. Learn more about the rise in truck sales in The Wall Street Journal’s article.
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 The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has filed a legal petition towards the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The petition claims that 26 states have yet to adopt the FMCSA ELD mandate. While 20 of those states have not yet implemented current FMCSA safety procedures in the past three years. As a result, the states not following the regulations are now at risk for federal funding, which would then make them unable to impose regulations, including the ELD mandate. Now the OOIDA has requested the FMCSA to suppress the funding of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program to those states until they can comply with the federal regulations. The states that were included in this report responded to the OOIDA’s claims and stated that their codes are up to date. In addition, the FMCSA reported that most states automatically implement federal safety regulations. The FMCSA is now currently working on a legal response OOIDA’s petition. Read more about the states responses to the OOIDA on Over Drive Online.
 Hurricane Irma has now grown to a category 5. After the disastrous effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the United States is taking no risk in preparing for what could be the strongest storm that the Atlantic has seen. As a result, the state of Florida has now suspended all trucking regulations. As we have seen in the past, the trucking industry is a very important aspect in preparing for emergency situations and in the process of relief. Now all hours of service regulations have been suspended for trucks carrying emergency service supplies and equipment or carrying FEMA mobile homes. In addition, Florida suspended registration requirement, as well as size and weight regulations for emergency supplies, equipment and ‘agricultural commodities’ that are being transported in the state. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also suspended all hours of service regulation in 26 states for fuel carriers. The suspension is in response to an expected fuel shortage in the regions after Hurricane Harvey. Read Overdrive’s article on the suspended regulations here.
The damage of Hurricane Harvey appears to be over, but the people of Texas are ready to look ahead onto recovery. After the damage has left thousands homeless, shut down airports and delayed ships in the Gulf, the community is awaiting to rebuild. The supply of necessities like water and bread to Houston and surrounding areas is looking down. Roads and ports continue to be closed which has caused the local distribution to be a mess. However, truck drivers are ready to work and to try and supply the people with emergency supplies.
One of the advantages of hurricanes is that weather forecasters can advise several days in advance of a storm’s arrival. This allowed suppliers in the affected areas to prepare for the storm. For example, FEMA was able to hire hundreds of trucks to deliver medical supplies, water and ready to eat meals. Yet the people are still suffering from a shortage of supplies. In Houston there are still 95 high water locations and, more than half-dozen major roads continue to be shut down. With all these factors taken in to play, the cost of trucking has also jumped. Now Texas is focusing on rebuilding their supply chain system to have the essentials back in stock. Truck drivers are going to be a key part of the recovery in order to help bring the state back normalcy. Trucking will be necessary for bringing supplies to restore the damage and most importantly to bring the vital items to the people. The many closed routs and debris on the road will make each trip longer, but drivers are using apps like Waze to find the open road that will lead them to reach the people in need.  A record rainfall has fallen in Texas as the storms continues. With the pouring rain causing historic flooding, transportation officials are encouraging people in the areas to stay off the highways and roads. There are currently 350 roads that are now flooded including the highways: I-10, I-45, I-69, I-610. The weather channel has reported that as many as 50 inches of rain can be expected in certain areas. As a result of these record breaking rains and damage being inflicted, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declared a state of emergency to Texas and Louisiana, which would exempt truck drivers from following DOT regulations. This would include avoiding hours of service and other regulations. This applies to all drivers that are transporting aid and emergency assistance towards the victims even if they are coming from other states. Learn more about this on Commercial Carrier Journal’s website.
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Photos from Transfixio, Rennett Stowe