Land Line Now

The Department of Transportation has a nine-point plan to improve truckers’ lives – and two hours-of-service reforms are a key part of it. Also, an ad campaign for a bread company eventually led to trucking’s best-known song – “Convoy” by C.W. McCall. We’ll tell you how it happened. And Land Line Now’s Mark Reddig, Scott Thompson and Ashley Blackford gather in studio A to discuss some high points...

DataQ is designed to correct mistakes in safety reporting – but truckers see a need for reform. Also, a small group of soldiers drove some specially modified vehicles during the Vietnam War. Then, a trucker driving to a delivery suddenly found himself on truck-restricted routes – and it cost him big. And the spot market has seen a big jump in reefer freight during week 25. 0:00 – DataQ reforms cou...

OOIDA has long called for hours-of-service flexibility. The DOT has a plan for two pilot programs to test changes to the hours-of-service regulations. But will they do the job? Also, those programs are part of a DOT plan to improve truckers’ lives. We’ll get into the details. Then, in 2011, we discovered electronic highway signs warning of “zombies ahead.” We’ll explain what really happened. And i...

The Texas Supreme Court just tossed out a $100 million nuclear verdict against Werner. Also, perhaps the most famous role soldier-truckers ever played was the “Red Ball Express.” Then, the “Code Talkers Flag,” which honors Navajos who used their language to help the U.S. in World War II, was lost until a trucker found it. And in 13 states this year, fuel taxes will change, and most will go up. 0:0...

CVSA wants the federal government to require electronic trackers on all trucks and has made it their top priority for the new highway bill. Also, two truckers who witnessed the fall of Saigon first-hand tell the story of that day – and the outsized role one tiny Navy vessel played. And FMCSA’s announcement Friday was like an OOIDA wish list, hitting issues like truck parking, split sleeper berth,...

The DOT will act on several OOIDA priorities, including speed limiters, hours of service, truck parking and more. Also, we’ll bring you a 2008 story about motorcyclists who travel every year to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Then, a good place to eat is a must for truckers – and a Louisiana restaurant fits the bill. It was the first entry in our “Semi Supper Club.” And Andy McCulloch of Michelin e...

A bill would free overtime pay from taxes. However, truckers – who don’t get overtime – are not included. Another bill would change that. Also, a man survived one of the worst shipwrecks on the Great Lakes – and a trucker told his tale. We’ll tell you about the S.S. Daniel J. Morrell. And late in 2024, two Iowa DOT workers stepped up to help a trucker in a bad situation. If they had not, the truck...

Nearly six decades ago, a trucker set world records by ballooning into the stratosphere. Also, Truckstop.com says that market pressure, rates, load availability and truck availability are all down. Then, low bridges can cause problems for truckers. But a pair of bridges in Iowa have developed a special reputation. And when a truck driver found himself in a jam, a local deputy and a group of inmate...

We continue our countdown to our final episode with more of our best work from the past 20 years. First, we’ll bring you an encore of our 2009 story about a Minnesota effort to establish a fatigue test, which ended with a federal court decision. Also, in 2010, a young woman ran across the entire United States to raise awareness for the St. Christopher Fund. And show trucks are a longtime part of t...

Just weeks after resolutions passed striking down California’s emission standards, the U.S. Supreme Court added its voice to the debate. Also, as part of our countdown to our final episode, we’ll bring you a 2005 debate over broker issues between OOIDA’s Jim Johnston and TIA’s Bob Voltman. And the reconciliation bill – or the one big, beautiful bill – has run into some problems. We’ll go over the...

An Oregon man who’s concerned about the potential ill effects of LED headlights is on a crusade to get them out of our vehicles. Also, from truckers stuck on a rural road to a man and his dog, we’ll tell you who in recent news has been good and who’s been bad with some Roses and Razzberries. Then, many in trucking have been searching for an alternative to diesel, and now Volvo Trucks North America...

What’s required to get started with enforcement of English proficiency in trucking, and when will it happen? We’ll get deep into the details. Also, what are all the current emergency declarations? What kind of regulatory relief do they offer? And to which truckers do they apply? Finally, two states are taking action regarding slow traffic in the left lane of interstate highways and other multilane...

FMCSA will renew an exemption for oversize and overweight loads, in part because those rigs realistically have no place to park. Also, many truckers have tried CBD, but a doctor says it could cause truckers to fail a drug test. Then, court case delays, appearing in court and case dismissals – all three are things you need to know about if you’re going to court. And the spot market is moving along...

NHTSA is planning for autonomous vehicles and working to ease the transition, even for those that don’t currently meet safety standards. Also, scams are nothing new, but the internet makes it easier to take advantage of others. We’ll go over some common tax-related scams. 0:00 – NHTSA greasing the skids for autonomous vehicles 10:12 – Some of the most common tax-related scams

Emergency declarations are causing problems, but some in Congress want FMCSA to clean up the situation. Also, insurance questions can pop up when you lease on to a motor carrier. Then, truckers and enforcement have had an ongoing disagreement about the use of personal conveyance. And now enforcement wants changes. And Congress has stepped in to put a stop to some of CARB’s emission regulations. 0:...

Plenty of truck drivers have had the itch to do something to spruce up their rig, but understandably don’t want to break the bank doing it. Bryan Martin of Chrome Shop Mafia has more than a few ideas. Then, we hear about a product that seeks to make the “trucker tan” a thing of the past. And finally, cybersecurity advice to keep the crooks at bay. 0:00 – Newscast 10:12 – Customize your truck witho...

President Trump just put a final nail in California’s emission standards coffin. We break down what that could mean for the future of electric vehicle mandates. Plus, how is the administration’s rollback of regulations going? We break out the grade sheet. Then, a look at crash preventability and its effect on truckers’ safety scores. And finally, an infamous truck-eating bridge in Kansas City, Mo....

One of the most common and easily recognized images in trucking and other freight-moving industries is the shipping container. But how did it come to be? For many years, one name has come up – that of Malcolm McLean, credited in numerous places as the inventor. However, the real story, as is so often the case, is a little more complex. We explore McLean’s story and his role in history. 0:00 – News...

Freight activity tends to slow down a bit as the months get warmer, so what’s behind the recent increase in freight entering the market? Plus, you’ve heard the complaint from members of the public or an elected official – that truckers don’t pay their “fair share” of the cost of our highways. But what do the cold, hard numbers tell us? Then, breaking down the merits of a traffic ticket service. An...

A proposal that would have amounted to an extra fee for motor carriers just got thrown on the scrap heap by a U.S. Senate committee. What are the chances it pops back up? Plus, having an interest in lease-purchase agreements is understandable – but the horror stories should be enough to make you think twice. Then, if you want to save money while your truck is parked, don’t pause your insurance – b...

Troopers in Louisiana say they just busted up another staged crash scheme targeting truckers – and Congress has a plan to stop future criminals from trying something similar. Then, on the 20th anniversary of Land Line Now’s very first episode, we take a deep dive on another debut – “Convoy” by C.W. McCall, which hit the airwaves on June 6, 1975, and spurred a decade-long trucker craze. And the lat...

Some of America’s bridges are in need of help, and the Federal Highway Administration is stepping up with some money to set things right. Also, Canadian and OOIDA board member Johanne Couture chats about life on the road and what it's like trucking from up North to the Lower 48. And what kind of person drives an older, long-nosed conventional truck? OOIDA tour truck driver Marty Ellis wonders what...

A Nevada trucking group is threatening a $500 delivery surcharge in Clark County if officials do not address truck parking. Also, time spent sitting can lead to many health problems, including “dead butt syndrome.” Then, a bridge called the Can Opener in the town of Delaware, Ohio, has been named a historic site. And market demand, loads and truck availability were all down last week, but compared...

The biennial update is something every trucker on his or her own authority has to do – but it’s not that hard, and you can do it yourself. Also, the easy way isn’t always the best way. That’s why leased-on truckers should have their own insurance coverage. And Washington state’s governor has OK’d a $15.5-billion, two-year transportation budget – one that includes new and increased taxes and fees....

Instead of pointing to new technology or regulations, an NTSB report linked a recent collision to the need for more truck parking. Also, OOIDA board member Ken Becker recently met with the Texas Freight Advisory Committee to discuss important issues such as truck parking. And from tornados to heavy trucks, June's Land Line Magazine explores some of the biggest dangers you need to be aware of out o...