Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

……and the bears are getting hungry.

In nature the predator follows the herd and generally preys on the weak, the old or the sick.  In bad times, however, those animals die off and the predators are left with no other prey than healthy strong animals.

The same thing appears to be happening in trucking.  The herd (trucks) has been thinnned.  The weak, the sick, and the old have been dropping like flies.  Twenty to thirty THOUSAND bankruptcies  among trucking companies just recently.   More to follow.

That leaves mostly first class carriers on the road.  The fly by nights have gone.   This presents a problem for the bears (Smokies).  If everyone follows the rules who do you ticket?

So they’re getting inventive.

Just recently:

Trucks in Texas have been cited for having torn mudflaps (not missing…just torn)

Trucks have been cited for having low air pressure in their tires.

During the recent nationwide  trucker harassment flatbedders have been ticketed for having straps misplaced by one inch or less.  The rule says “a strap every ten foot”.  The bears were using tape measures and, you guessed it, if the straps were ten foot one inch,  GOTCHA!

According to an article in LandLine trucks in Minnesota have been put out of service for “messy sleepers” and “improperly made beds”.

And my favorite.

Recently a driver pulling an oversize load in Maryland was cited because his provision sheet wasn’t firmly attached to his permit.  He had it paper clipped and the officer thought a staple would have been more appropriate.

Apparently it’s getting HUNGRY out there, for the bears.  The carriers that are left are “the good ones” who follow the rules.  Used to be there were enough “outlaws” that the bears  could find a good meal.

Not any more.

So the bears are getting creative.

Watch yourselves out there.