If you’re looking to keep your truckers and trucking company in compliance with changing DOT regulations, give Border Trucking Compliance a call and speak to a representative. 

How the Pandemic Affected the Trucking Industry 

It’s no secret that covid hit every industry from multiple directions. The trucking industry was not spared by the worldwide pandemic and, as many people saw, truckers are an essential component of the national and international supply chain that carries goods from point A to point B. Supply chains were greatly affected as disruptions caused by covid began to spread through the entire transportation industry. 

DOT Compliance in 2022: What You Need to Know

#1 Supply Chain Disruptions

The disruptions in the industry began with the lockdowns, which had several companies shutting down, pausing services, or working under limited hours due to staffing shortages. As infections increased, truckers and other support staff had to remain off work for the recommended 14 days, which caused shortages not only in drivers, but in administrative staff, and other support staff. 

This, in turn, affected the efficiency of U.S. docks receiving shipments, which led to packed ships waiting at the docks to be unloaded. Without the unloading capacity, the containers would take longer to process, and the goods inside those containers would take longer to reach their destination. At the same time, the lagging in unloading times affected shipping contain availability that increased the delay for shipments of other goods.  

#2 Increase Demand 

As lockdowns continued, the demand for direct shipping skyrocketed because people were relying on delivery services instead of buying goods through brick-and-mortar shops. This surge in demand put pressure on companies to hire and train qualified personnel to transfer the goods, but thanks to closures and limited hours, it was difficult to do so on a fast basis. 

#3 Gas Prices and High Inflation 

As Americans see gas prices rise, they have started to shift their consumer habits. Yet, while many people have diminished their driving, they have increased their demand for shipped goods, which in turn increases the need for trucking services and transportation. As truckers drive more, their need to fill up at the pump is increased and their expenditures on gas do as well. 

Changes in Trucking Compliance and Regulations for 2022 

Some of the challenges that truck drivers and companies will face in 2022 will deal with compliance and other regulatory restrictions. Companies have to contend with: 

• Limited drivers
• Decreases in volume and available trucks
• Changing regulations

Some of the most significant changes for drivers might include:

#1 Driving Requirements 

In order to be Department of Transportation (USDOT) compliant the applicant must have a CDL driver’s license. New drivers must complete Basic Operator Certification (BOC), which is 80 hours of sponsored classroom insurance. Regulations about how to break up these hours dictate that they cannot be taken in longer than 8-hour increments. New drivers should also complete certifications and specialized training such as  DOT SWD (Supplements for Windswept Debris). A drug test and background check are also required. There are also physical requirements that ensure drivers are in good health to operate large vehicles. 

#2 Changing Truck Requirements

With new legislation come new government requirements on trucks and drivers. Some of the new regulations in the works include automatic emergency braking added to new trucks, more stringent inspections for reading underride guards, and new rules for an apprenticeship Pilot Program. 

#3 New Entry Requirements

As part of the new requirements for drivers is the FMCA’s enhanced training regulations that were set to begin in 2020. Applicants that want to apply for a Class A or Class B driver’s license need to complete 31 courses and 19 skills that form the comprehensive training program. 

#4 Changes Under Discussion 

Other regulations include changes still under discussion. These are possible restrictions that include mandatory speed limiters for most commercial vehicles, added insurance levels for all commercial drivers or motor carriers, and new screenings for conditions such as sleep apnea that can affect a driver’s ability to do their job. New truck emission standards might also be looming. 

Stay on Top of Regulations with Border Trucking Compliance 

Partner up with a company that understands and follows the changing regulations and DOT requirements. That’s not always an easy task, as changes often happen without much fanfare or announcement. As a way to stay in compliance with DOT permits and regulations, work with trucking professionals like the team at Border Trucking Compliance. 

Want to learn more about how we can help you get to where you need to go? Call Border Trucking Compliance in El Paso today. 

Because many truck drivers cross borders as part of their jobs—whether it’s to Mexico or Canada— the policies enacted in other countries in relation to covid 19 have an impact on the imports and exports moving across nations and on the hard-working folks that move those goods. 

How is the trucking industry dealing with these policy changes and cross-border issues? 

Let’s begin with domestic policy. 

The American Trucking Association’s Position on Vaccine Mandates 

There is a lot of debate in the country right now regarding federal mandates of the covid vaccine. The American Trucking Association took a clear position in the vaccine mandate debate. The Association has made it clear that they support the vaccines and encourage them but have serious concerns about the unintended consequences of a federal mandate. 

The Association explains how truck drivers have been working the frontlines since the beginning of the pandemic. From the uncertain months in the Spring of 2020 through the rest of the tumultuous year and into 2021, truck drivers delivered medical supplies, PPE, food, water gasoline, and vaccines to their destination across the nation. Their priority, as they state on their website, is to continue working through any and all conditions to ensure that the U.S. population has what they need. 

The Association compiled internal data that showed that applying a vaccine mandate across the board would threaten the industry more than help it. Their data suggest that enforcing a mandate would cause a spike in driver turnover, attrition, or resentment and would risk losing about 37% of the current driving workforce. 

The American Trucking Association’s position was supported by various other state trucking associations including Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. They have taken their position to court in a lawsuit against the Biden administration. 

Their reasoning behind their position include:

• The overwhelming amount of their workday that drivers spend alone in their cab.
• Time not spent indoors inside the truck cab is predominantly spent outdoors in lots, drop-off zones, etc.
• Truck drivers’ exceptional records of following safety protocols throughout the early days of the pandemic. Their data showed that the infection rate was 8.7%.

Questions of Cross-Border Crossings for Truck Drivers 

In addition to driving across state lines and often traversing multiple states, truck drivers are often crossing borders into our Southern and Northern neighbors. Similarly, truck drivers of those countries often cross over into the United States. This fact has caused serious challenges to the industry as country policies differ. 

Questions of Cross-Border Trucking Into Canada 

Dominating the news at the moment is the issues happening with Canada and their stringent vaccine and quarantine requirements. Reuters reported on January 10, 2022, that Canadian Prime Minister resisted pressures to drop the mandates for cross-border truckers. Critics of this mandate have made it clear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that imposing the mandate on all international drivers will increase driver and supply chain shortages, thereby creating a lack of goods and driving up prices of incoming goods from the United States. 

According to the article, truckers entering Canada from the United States will have to show proof of vaccination starting on January 15th. That policy, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance, could force up to 16,000 drivers (10%) to quit their jobs and get off the road. 

This policy is one of the first that is having reverberations across country lines. For the previous 20 months or so, truck drivers had been exempt from such policies because they were considered essential workers. 

Newsweek reported that the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada’s internal polling data suggests that 56% of their drivers will not get vaccinated in response to this mandate. The industry experts are waiting to see what will happen as the policies start to go into effect the second week of January. According to some estimates, $511 billion of goods traded between the U.S. and Canada every year are transported by road. So the effects of the policies have a lot on the line. 

Questions of Cross-Border Trucking From and Into Mexico 

When it comes to truck drivers coming in from Mexico, the United States has adopted a policy of ensuring those drivers are vaccinated against covid. This policy was articulated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and it applies to non-U.S citizen travelers coming into the U.S. for essential and non-essential travel. 

Mexico’s vaccine policy is no different. The Mexican authorities also require U.S. truck drivers going into Mexico to be vaccinated. 

Trucking Compliance Questions? Go With a Trusted Company 

While we do not make policy here at Border Trucking Compliance, we can help truck companies ensure compliance with trucking regulations as set by the USDoT and TxDot. Whether it’s title and registration or driver testing, we can help. The trucking industry is dynamic and adapts quickly to the changing demands of the modern world. We want to help you do it right!

When it comes to compliance, go with a trucking company you trust. Want to learn more about what we do and how we help truck drivers and truck companies meet regulations? Call Border Trucking Compliance today.

So how do these goods get transported and how does the state regulate the safety to ensure that other Texas motorists remain safe on the road?

Here’s what you need to know.  

Texas Trucking Industry Standards for Compliance 

Texas has a border that spans almost 2,000 miles. Because of this large border with neighboring Mexico, the state dominates the trade with our Southern neighbor and is responsible for about 85% of the cross-country trade. As reported by the Texas Department of Transportation, over $1.6 trillion (equal to about 1.2 billion tons of freight) are traversed within the state’s border every year. Due to the state’s central geographic location, truck drivers can reach any other place in the country in less than two days. This means that a lot of traffic passes through the state’s highway system heading in multiple directions. 

Standard Loads and Permits in Texas 

The types of permits that truckers need really depend on the size and load weight of the freight being transported. For companies or contractors shipping heavy equipment or materials, these rules also apply as per TxDot. Here are a couple of weight and height amounts that provide an idea of what this all means. 

• Legal loads: Length: the trailer length maximum is about 59 feet. The overall combined length is 65 feet. The width is 8 feet 6 inches with a 14 ft height limit. The weight is 80,000 pounds overall. 
• Oversized limits: The maximum length for this is 180 and the width is 20 feet. The height is 18 feet with the weight ranging up to 240,000 pounds. 

Texas Superloads and What You Need to Know

A Texas superload is considered anything that outweighs the above limits. So if it exceeds 240,000 pounds and less than 95 feet of axle spacing, it may be considered a Texas superload. 

Restrictions on when these loads and superloads are driven on the roads also apply. For example, if a shipment is overweight it can travel at night. Traveling on weekends is also permitted. Travel on certain holidays when the load exceeds a certain weight and height is also restricted. 

Lights and Safety When Carrying Oversize Loads

Other restrictions about how certain loads are carried also apply here. For example, when dealing with oversized and superloads, the tractor-trailer unit is required to showcase its own orange or red fluorescent lights. In fact, the requirements are pretty precise indicating, for example, that the base lights have a minimum base of 8 inches or 2 amber lights. 

When it comes to certain sized loads, escort vehicles might also be required. You may have seen these vehicles before when a large load is moving through a highway. These are the side vehicles that carry signs, lights or keep a lane open for an overhanging load. 

Examples of Loads on Texas Highways 

Everything and anything can be transported via the highway. Some of the many types of heavy loads and TxDot permits may include: 

• Single-trip 
• Manufactured housing single-trip
• Portable building 
• Super heavy
• House move
• Crave and well service unit mileage
• Self-propelled off-road equipment 

When transporting goods within a state, an important distinction to make includes interstate and intrastate. When a shipment or load leaves Texas borders, it is generally referred to as interstate shipment or travel. Yet, this is the source of some confusion because it is often the load that determines the restrictions the driver and company must follow and not the final destination of the shipment. 

There are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to weight, inspections, and more. The state has placed heavy regulations in ensuring the safety and adequate training and screening of drivers, requiring trucking insurance, and regulating the weight and size of shipments that are interacting with day-to-day commuters. 

Learn More About Texas Trucking Permits with Border Trucking Compliance

Following state guidelines is essential to maintaining the good standing of your company. It also avoids fines or citations, plus providing specific safety protocols and requirements to follow to keep Texas drivers and your drivers safe. 

Want to learn more? We know the law is always changing and can be confusing. Connect with Border Trucking Compliance today.