Tale Lites Issue 67

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🚛 Push for English Only CDL Testing Gains Law Enforcement Support

On April 24, the National Police Association (NPA) officially endorsed the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act of 2025

The bill, introduced in both the House and Senate, looks to tighten standards for commercial drivers across the country. Here’s what it would do:

• Require all CDL tests to be administered in English only

• Require drivers to hold a standard driver’s license for at least one year before upgrading to a CDL

• Give DOT the authority to penalize states that don’t comply

According to the NPA they say it’s all about safety on the road. Their argument is: if a driver can’t read road signs or clearly communicate with officers during a stop or accident, the risk goes up for everyone involved.

“Public safety is compromised when commercial vehicle operators are unable to read and understand traffic signage in English,” the organization said, pointing to breakdowns in communication during traffic stops and crash investigations as a serious concern.

The group also warned that language barriers can lead to confusion, or worse, escalation, during interactions with law enforcement.

NPA Legislative Director Paula Fitzsimmons calls it “reckless” to allow drivers operating multi-ton vehicles who can’t fully understand road signage or instructions.

The legislation would also give federal teeth to enforcement, ensuring states actually follow through on testing standards.

Where things stand:

• The bill is still sitting in committee after being introduced last year

• Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Transportation is already moving in the same direction

Back in February, USDOT announced plans to move forward with rule-making that would require CDL testing to be conducted in English nationwide.

What do you think? For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

Tale Lites Throwback

Do you want a new fleet of White tractors? Here’s the features!

🚨 What is the “Trojan Driver” Scam

Something I have been saying is as the technology has reacted to cargo theft, the criminals will always do what they can to stay ahead. Now, cargo theft isn’t just happening from the outside, it’s now coming from inside trucking companies

The Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) is warning the industry about a growing scheme called the “Trojan Driver” scam.

Instead of fake carriers or stolen MC numbers, theft rings are now planting drivers inside legitimate trucking companies.

How the scam works

It’s not done at random like conventional double brokering and chameleon carriers, it’s structured and repeatable.

1. Operatives get hired by real, vetted carriers

2. They run loads like normal drivers (sometimes for weeks or months)

3. They wait until they’re assigned a “high value load”

4. During a routine stop, they park at a pre-planned location

5. A second crew shows up and takes the freight

6. The driver gets fired (as expected)… and moves on to the next company

From the outside, it looks like a standard theft.

In reality, the setup started long before the truck ever moved.

⚠️ Why this is a big deal

Crime syndicates are going old school by getting a guy on the inside. Instead of trying to outsmart technology, why not outsmart the industry’s retention problem?

That’s what makes this dangerous:

• The carrier is legitimate

• The authority is clean

• The driver passed hiring checks

• The load moves like normal

By the time anything looks sketchy, it’s already too late. As security expert Scott Cornell put it, criminal networks are now infiltrating trusted operations, not just impersonating them.

📊 The bigger picture

Cargo theft is already trending in the wrong direction.

Data from Verisk’s CargoNet shows:

• 3,594 theft incidents last year

• Estimated losses of $725 million

• Over 1,800 cases tied to strategic theft (fraud, double brokering, etc.)

And that’s just what gets reported.

🛑 What needs to change

This scam exposes a weak point the industry doesn’t like to talk about:

Trust.

Right now, the system assumes that once a driver is hired, they’re good to go.

That assumption is getting exploited.

TAPA is pushing for a few key changes:

• More thorough background checks

• Delaying access to high value freight (6–12 months tenure)

• Better coordination between carriers, brokers, and shippers

The other side of this coin though IS the retention issue in the industry. It’s very common for drivers in this era to be with multiple companies over a 5-10 year span and a lot of that has to do with how drivers are treated at certain companies. Restricting drivers based on load value still leaves that load waiting for the “experienced” driver to haul it, and he may be across the country.

📩 What are your thoughts?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

🩺 Health Tip of the Week: Summer is Coming, but you Still Need More Vitamin D

I used to think this when I was driving, “I’m in the sun all day, I’m good.” Unfortunately, the sunlight coming through your windshield does NOT give you what you need.

Here’s why:

• Your body makes Vitamin D from UVB rays

• Windshields block almost all UVB

• So even if it’s bright and sunny, you’re likely not producing Vitamin D while driving

Low Vitamin D is extremely common in everyone, and it impacts:

• Energy levels

• Testosterone

• Immune system

• Bone and joint health

• Mood (especially long weeks on the road)

If you’re feeling run down, low energy, or just “off,” this is one of the easiest things to fix.

💊 What to do

• Supplement Vitamin D3 (typically 2,000–5,000 IU daily)

• Pair it with Vitamin K2 for better absorption

• Get 10–20 minutes of real sunlight (outside the truck) when you can

Partner Post of the Week

We’ve all been celebrating hitting 5,000 locations, including our friend Jacinda! Get $20 off your next booking by using the promo code jacinda13

Long Time Trucker Writes Book on the State of American Trucking Industry

Is there a quiet war being waged against America’s truck drivers?

That’s the argument behind End of the Road: Inside the War on Truckers, a new book by longtime driver and writer Gord Magill. Magill claims the industry that once represented freedom and independence is being attacked on all fronts, from government regulations, in cab surveillance technology, corporate consolidation, and the push toward autonomous trucks.

God Magill has decades of experience including 4 seasons on ice roads in Canada, road trains in Australia, and over the road in the US. He argues that drivers today face tighter control, shrinking margins, and a future where human truckers may be pushed out altogether.

If you drive a truck, have driven, or have a family member who drives then this book is a must read.

You can order the book HERE and use the promo code 4TRUCKERS20 for a discount at checkout!

🎸 Little Texas Headlining Walcott Truckers Jamboree

Country band Little Texas will headline the 48th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree on July 10 at 7 PM at the Iowa 80 Truckstop — known as the World’s Largest Truckstop.

The three-day event (July 9–11) will feature live music, a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display, Trucker Olympics, pork chop cookout, fireworks, and more.

Best part: Admission and parking are free. 🚛🇺🇸 

Truck Parking Club Partner Program

Do you create content for truckers, want to help solve the truck parking crisis, and an opportunity to give drivers FREE parking? Let’s work together! Click below to apply for Truck Parking Club’s Partner Program today!