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Tale Lites Issue 83
We Saw the Best Drivers Compete! - Dashcam or Flock Camera?!
Michael Lombard
August 17, 2026
đźš› Our Time at the 2026 National truck Driving Championships
Last week Truck Parking Club sponsored the National Truck Driving Championships in Pittsburgh, PA. Often referred to as the Super Bowl of Safety, the field was made up by 429 competitors from 55 different trucking companies across 49 states. Combined, that is 775 million safe driving miles!
To make it to the National Championships these drivers had to win their category at the state championships first.
The 9 vehicle classes at the National Truck Driving Championships are:
3-axle
4-axle
5-axle
Straight truck
Sleeper berth
Tanker
Flatbed
Twin trailers
Step van (National Step Van Driving Championships, run alongside NTDC)
FedEx Freight had the most drivers participate by a wide margin, followed by Wal-Mart Transportation.
The 2026 Grand Champion was Miguel Corral of UPS! But every driver competing was a champion!
At Truck Parking Club we value safety as our goal is to provide instantly reservable truck parking for drivers nationwide, and so we were proud to put our name behind this event!
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Check out our interview with the FMCSA Director!
@truckparkingclub Look who we ran into at the Super Bowl of Safety! Shoutout to FMCSA Administrator Barrs for showing up and supporting the competitors at t... See more
What do you think? For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444
đźšš Freight Market Watch
All in rates (linehaul + fuel surcharge), week of Aug 9-15
Dry Van: $2.93/mile, down ~2 cents week over week
Reefer: $3.38/mile, essentially flat week over week
Flatbed: $3.54/mile, down ~6 cents week over week — the steepest pullback of the three, tracking the seasonal wind-down in construction and ag freight
At the Pump
Regional snapshot (August 10 reading, most recent official):
Gulf Coast: $5.044/gal (still your cheapest fill-up)
Midwest: $5.181/gal
East Coast: $5.193/gal
Rocky Mountain: $5.271/gal
West Coast (excl. CA): $5.526/gal
California: $6.618/gal — broader West Coast (incl. CA) averaging $6.033/gal
National diesel eased 9.1 cents/gal to $5.257 that week, its first drop after four straight weekly increases. But with troubles still ongoing in the Middle East this may be changing.
👀 Is Your Truck’s Dashcam Scanning License Plates?
Over the last few weeks there has been a lot of online discourse regarding Flock Cameras being installed, but now a new federal lawsuit is raising a bigger concern: What if the camera pointed at the road is also quietly tracking everyone else on it?
Two truckers have filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Motive, alleging that the company’s AI Dashcam Plus can function as an automated license plate reader, capturing information about vehicles that pass within its view.
According to the lawsuit, the system can capture information including a vehicle’s:
License plate number
Make and model
Vehicle body type
State of registration
Date and time of the recording
Location of the camera
The lawsuit describes the technology stating, “These cameras never blink, they never sleep, and they see and remember everything.”
The caveat is: Motive’s Dashcam Plus does not necessarily collect this information continuously. According to the company’s stated capabilities, this feature is “opt-in” and only captures data when a supported safety event occurs and a customer has enabled the plate reading.
So this isn't necessarily a case of every Motive equipped truck continuously scanning every license plate it passes.
But the lawsuit argues that the people being recorded have no meaningful way of knowing when or where that it happens at all.
That’s where California comes in
California has regulated automated license plate readers since 2016, requiring operators to disclose how vehicle tracking data is collected and used. The lawsuit alleges Motive failed to provide that transparency.
The technology could improve safety, insurance and even law enforcement. But it also creates a new privacy problem.
The lawsuit doesn't prove Motive broke the law, but it raises the important question: As cameras get smarter, what can they learn about us, and who gets access to that information?
đź“© What are your thoughts?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444
🍽️ Recipe of the Week! BBQ Tenders
Three ingredients, one basket, done in under 15 minutes.
INGREDIENTS
• 6 ounces chicken breast tenders
• 2 BBQ sauce packets
• 0.3 cups shredded cheese blend (single-serve bag)
STEPS
Coat the chicken: Toss the 6 ounces chicken breast tenders with 1 of the 2 BBQ sauce packets packets in a container until coated.
Air fry: Air fry at 380°F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway, until it hits 165°F inside.
Top and melt: Top with 0.3 cups shredded cheese blend (single-serve bag) and the second 2 BBQ sauce packets packet, then microwave 20 seconds to melt the cheese.
~280 cal, 34g protein. Sub any packet sauce you've got (buffalo, teriyaki) if BBQ's out. Grab a pre-cut fruit cup on the side if you want something to round out the meal.
Partner Post of the Week
If you’re not following the Angry Trucker on Tiktok, give him a follow! If you need safe parking use the promo code tat20 for $20 off your next booking
@the_angry_trucker Truck parking club always comes in a cluch. it just saved another student of mine from a log violation or having to sleep on an on and off... See more
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!
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!