Shippers are skittish

Drivers are on the road day in and day out and often spot issues or inefficiencies before an exec does. One retired fleet manager's advice to other leaders: listen to your employees. "They might see things you don’t."

Meanwhile, the latest in New York's congestion pricing drama, another autonomous trucking company puts its trucks on the road, and OOIDA battles California's AB5 independent contractor law.

Plus, if your shippers seem skittish, you're not alone. J.B. Hunt is seeing a lot of caution from customers thanks to tariffs.

Roadcheck prep. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's annual Roadcheck is coming up in May. The secret to preparing? Treat every day like it's a Roadcheck day, says one safety expert.  

Is this a soap opera? DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul are throwing jabs at each other on social media over NY's congestion pricing program. And neither side is hiding its irritation or disdain.

Would you rather drive half the year away from home, or year-round but local? In this video, one driver weighs the pros and cons and how the salaries differ.

Just for fun. CDL rules must be getting lax... look who's driving this truck!

1.5%

The amount by which U.S. trucking activity fell last month, a drop after tonnage bounced back up in February. 

Source: American Trucking Associations

The importance of employee feedback in trucking

Larry Campbell is a retired fleet manager who saw big changes during his decades in the trucking industry—from punch cards to telematics. But some strategies remain the same throughout the years. One of those: listening to employee feedback and involving workers in decisions. 

"Get their input. Listen. They might see things you don’t," Campbell said. 

Truck drivers may be more likely to spot routine problems in the cab or on the road than fleet managers, because they interface daily with trucks. The same is true for technicians, dispatchers and other key workers in the industry. 

Why this matters: A top-down approach to leadership can lead to resentment from employees or a situation where management misunderstands the root problems. Employee feedback is critical to understand how to run your business and to make workers feel engaged and valued by the company.

Get more details at Work Truck Online.

TARIFF EFFECT: Volvo to lay off up to 350 due to freight demand, tariffs

DRUG SEIZE: $9M of cocaine found in tractor-trailer during traffic stop 

FALLING BEHIND: Biz leaving cyber vulnerabilities unpatched, open to attack

TESTING, TESTING: Torc Robotics trials driverless trucks in Texas

OOIDA makes final legal challenge against CA's AB5

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is making its final arguments in court, noting that California's independent contractor law, AB5, should not apply to the trucking industry. These arguments focused on AB5's B2B exception, and the regulation is now awaiting a ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Why this matters: The 9th Circuit already upheld AB5's jurisdiction over trucking previously, so the latest arguments would need to bring new findings to rule in favor of OOIDA. Given that independent contractors and owner-operators are an integral part of the trucking ecosystem, their status questioned by AB5 could create massive changes in the industry. (FreightWaves)

For-hire trucking not out of the woods on freight recession

ACT Research is predicting a prolonged freight recession in the for-hire trucking market. The researchers expect retailer stock-ups ahead of tariffs to subside, and consumer buying to fall as prices rise. As ACT's senior analyst Tim Denoyer puts it: "Freight is very much in the crosshairs of the trade war.”

Why this matters: Trucking has been weathering a freight recession for years, and it seems that relief may not be imminent because of the tariffs. Up to 25% of surface freight in the U.S. is related to international trade, so tariffs are bound to impact a considerable amount of freight movement. (Trucks Parts Service)

J.B. Hunt: shippers tread cautiously on contracts

Due to uncertainty related to tariffs, shippers are approaching the market more cautiously and taking longer than usual to execute contracts. That's affecting trucking carriers, including J.B. Hunt, which noted the trend during its latest earnings call.  

Why this matters: Shipper uncertainty creates a ripple effect of carrier uncertainty. If customers aren't willing to lock in contracts, fleets will have to take their own cautious approaches to business and operations. (Trucking Dive)

Could AI cameras battle cargo theft?

With cargo theft and fraud on the rise, one security company is offering a solution: using AI and sensors. AI could scan trucks for numbers and match them against an authorization list, or it could use facial recognition to verify drivers. Plus, radar and sensors could sweep fences, detecting people trying to enter a truck yard or warehouse site. 

Why this matters: Criminals involved in cargo theft are unfortunately getting more sophisticated, making it difficult for fleet managers to keep up with combating theft or fraud. If AI and other technologies can automate the process and stop thieves in their tracks, it may be a welcome solution for carriers. (Overdrive)

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