Truckers need parking, not paperwork

English proficiency for drivers: a safety measure or a blunt instrument? We hear one expert's opinions. 

Meanwhile, groups are tackling industry-wide problems head-on. One is taking on truck parking shortages, another is encouraging CDL programs for community college students, and another is fighting what it claims is a "safety crisis in the making."

Plus, cows, bees and... cocaine. Oh my! 

Safe space, literally. Evan Shelley, CEO of Truck Parking Club, discusses on the May 27th episode of this podcast how the club is aiming to make truck parking more available, ensuring safety for drivers and the driving public. 

Relive the good ol' days of trucking with this nostalgic video.

Plus, another trip down memory lane with a look at the truckless truck, and how the tractor-trailer combo ultimately won out. 

What's abuzz in the trucking world? A truck lost part of its load around a tight turn. It was carrying 500 hive boxes and 14 million honey bees.

7%

The percentage of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's workforce that would be cut under the latest budget proposal. 

Source: FreightWaves

Enforcement of English proficiency could cause 'collateral damage'

English proficiency enforcement will soon begin under Trump's executive order and guidance from the FMCSA. But at least one industry observer sees a big problem with the execution.

"The order’s broad and vague terms risk being used as more blunt instruments in the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant push," writes Annie Abbott, Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish at the University of Illinois. 

Abbott recommends three steps to transform the executive order into practice and actually make roads safer, including a professional definition of "proficiency." 

Why this matters: Immigrants make up nearly 20% of the truck driving population, per Abbott, who cited NATSO. Without consistency among law enforcement on how to enforce the rules and among fleet managers on how best to train their drivers, there could be disruption to trucking movements. 

Get more details at The Latino Newsletter.

RECALL ALERT: Daimler recalls 21,000 trucks due to fire risk

COKE CONSPIRACY: Trucking owner gets 28 years in prison 

CALLING DRIVERS: Virginia Tech seeks drivers to test AV simulators

HOLY COW: Semi-truck driver collides with cows, killing 10

Calif. will officially drop clean fleet mandates

California is withdrawing its Advanced Clean Fleet mandates, which directed fleets to transition from diesel to zero-emission vehicles. The California Air Resources Board and the state's attorney general agreed in court documents last week to pull back the rules no later than Oct. 31. 

Why this matters: Trucking groups in various states have called for the removal of clean fleet rules, claiming their timelines are unrealistic given costs, charging infrastructure and other logistics. Advocates, however, have argued that regulations are necessary to keep the trucking industry moving forward toward a greener future. Either way, the back-and-forth on regulations have left fleet executives who already have EVs in their fleet in a lurch. (Fox News) 

Community colleges debut CDL training programs

Two community colleges, one in California and the other in Louisiana, are launching commercial driver's license training programs. The goal? Introduce students to careers in truck driving and help fill open roles in the local workforce. 

Why this matters: With the average truck driver nearing retirement age, the industry and its surrounding community need to ensure younger students and workers are exposed to and aware of the career possibilities in trucking. These programs are one step in that direction. (Transport Topics)

Trucking coalition speaks out against heavier truck weights

The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks is living up to its namesake. As the next highway bill gets drafted on Capitol Hill, the coalition is making its position known. Increasing truck weights from 80,000 to 91,000 pounds is "a safety crisis in the making," the group says.

Why this matters: The potential pros of heavier trucks include more efficient logistics and fewer trips because trailers can hold more freight. But groups such as the coalition and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association argue that the safety risks aren't worth the unproven benefits. (Land Line)

What's next for AI in trucking? 

AI has already started to take the logistics industry by storm. Where is it headed next? A panel of experts predicted that routing will advance, with AI monitoring a truck's path and pulling in weather and map data to make real-time adjustments. 

Why this matters: Trimble Transportation estimates that more than 90% of trucking companies use AI in their operations today. The future is here now, and the leaders unwilling to embrace technological change may fall behind. (Fleet Owner)

Thanks for reading today's edition! You can reach the newsletter team at editor@theinsidelane.co. We enjoy hearing from you.

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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.