All of the industry reports are showing strong freight prices, especially for flat bed loads.  That is an especially good sign as freight moved on flat bed is usually tied to infrastructure improvement. Dry van freight is stable and refrigerated freight is also strong.

The trucking industry continues to brace for the looming requirement for Electronic Logging Devices to become mandatory on December 18th of this year.

There are still efforts by some in the industry to delay or terminate the requirement. On Tuesday of this week, Rep. Brian Babin of Texas introduced the ELD Extension Act of 2017 (H.R.3282) with the intent of extending the current implementation date for the Electronic Logging Device mandate by two years, making the new implementation date December 2019. The bill has been referred for consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

This comes right on the heels of the House of Representatives Transportation, Housing and Urban Development’s rider to the 2018 funding bill that could end up delaying or repealing the electronic logging device mandate. Although it may seem like there is a good chance that the ELD will be delayed, experts say the chances are slim. Both measures would need to be approved by the House and Senate and, with the current difficult political climate, the odds are not likely.

A bill nearing completion in the California Legislature is intended to improve safety on the state’s roadways by implementing new federal commercial driver regulations. Additional truck driver safety requirements would also be added. The Assembly Transportation Committee voted unanimously to advance a Senate-approved bill to implement a federal rule that requires people seeking a commercial driver’s license to complete a certified course of instruction from a commercial driving institution or program offered by an employer before being issued a license.

Specifically, the Department of Motor Vehicles would be required to adopt regulations to comply with the federal rule by June 5, 2020. SB158 would also establish minimum behind-the-wheel training requirements to be completed as part of CDL training.