Road Scholar | Transport Blog's

The trucking industry has long been vulnerable to fraudulent activities, particularly in the transportation of household goods.   To address this issue, a new legislative initiative—the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act—has been introduced.   This bill aims to grant the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enhanced authority to protect consumers from fraud in the interstate transportation of household goods. Key Provisions of the Act 1.      Civil Penalties for Unregistered Shippers and Hostage Situations : The act empowers FMCSA to impose civil penalties on unregistered shippers and entities that hold consumers' personal goods hostage.   This authority is crucial for deterring fraudulent practices and ensuring consumer protection. 2.      State Reimbursement for Enforcing Federal Laws : The bill provides FMCSA with explicit authority to reimburse states for enforcing...

  Weathermen are predicting what could be record breaking temperatures this summer not only for the Northeast, but across the country, thanks to the quickly developing La Niña climate pattern in the coming months.   The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts that heat waves will be more common, especially along the I-95 corridor, contributing to what could be an extremely warm summer season, perhaps breaking 2021 and 1936 records​ ( FOX Weather ) ​​ ( Almanac.com ) ​. High temperature conditions pose a large concern for shippers whose products must maintain specific temperature ranges or else face spoilage and contamination risks (which in turn can lead to widespread outbreaks), hazardous concerns (such as explosions and injuries), as well as damage and malfunctioning of their products.  Did you know?  Large shares of pharmaceutical and medicinal shipments are classified as chilled products, which means they must be stored in a t...

The trucking industry faces an ongoing challenge with cargo theft, and recent data indicates a troubling trend of increasing incidents in the first quarter of 2024.   According to CargoNet , theft incidents increased 46% in 2024’s first quarter compared to 1Q 2023 and 10% from 4Q 2023.   According to the report : *The average stolen shipment was $281,757 with the declared total being $76 million. *An estimated $154.6 million of product was stolen during 1Q 2024. *Illinois experienced the greatest spike in thefts (126% YOY) followed by California (72% increase YOY) and Texas (22% rise YOY). *Appliances, alcohol and beverages were among the top stolen products but CargoNet noted that a “wide array of goods” were stolen, creating a threat to all industries. *While the majority of thefts were “complex fraud schemes,” simple cargo theft continues to persist with popular hotspots being Southern California, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, and the corridor spanning New...